THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1892. THE PLEASANT POINT MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2343, 14 April 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1892. THE PLEASANT POINT MEETING.

The result of the Pleasant Point meeting ought to be sufficient to indicate to the majority of the Harbor Board the trend of jiublic opinion. The meeting was a large and representative one, and although the speaking was chiefly done by persons living outside the district, st?U the local ratepayers manifested very strong feelings against the proposals of the board. It was like bearding the lion in his den, or the Douglas in his hall, to attack Mr Acton in Pleasant Point. There he has lived almost all his life; there he is wellknown, and widely respected, and there his word ought to have weight. On any other occasion, and on any other subject, Mr Acton's personalty would exercise wide influence in Pleasant Point, and, indeed, it ought to, for he has always been a most useful member of society, and a very capable public man. But though he made a most urgent appeal to his neighbors to rally round him and support his views ; though he talked about coercing his conscience, and tried to frighten the people with the terrors of another loan, he could only get four out of about one hundred persons present to hold up their hands in his favor, while a whole forest of hands were held up in opposition to him. As regax-ds public opinion in Pleasant Point, therefore, there is not the slightest room to doubt it. It is almost unanimously opposed to the proposal of the board, and that being so we ask the members to reflect on the consequences of persisting in ordering expensive machinery all at once., If they do so the result will be that a new set of men will be elected next year who will reverse the board's decision, and then the machinery will be idle. All the money will be spent, and the new board will be driven to borrow if they want to do anything. Now, is it right for the members of the board to disregard public opinion, and risk such consequences as we have pointed out '( We have no doubt the members of the board believe honestly in the course they are taking. We give them credit for honesty of purpose, and good intentions, but at the same time, if they have the good of the district at heart, as we believe they have, they ought to submit to the will of the people, and either delay operations or resign. Supposing they are right as they think they are, it is opposed to the principles of elective institutions to set public opinion at defiance. Parliament yields to public opinion, the House of Lords submits to it, and the members of the Harbor Board ought not to set themselves above it. We hope, therefore, that they will see their way to end the turmoil by yielding to circumstances and putting off their proposal until after the electors have been given an opportunity of voting on the subject.