Page 3 Advertisements Column 6

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4039, 8 December 1881, Page 3

1 Electoral - [advebtibihutt.] TO THE EL^PIOKS OP THE COROMANDEL DISTEICT. /~IENTLEMEN,—Now we are on the VX eve of an Election, it is well for us to take a calm and reasonable survey of the qualifications of the sereral candidates for oar patronage. First on the list, as being a man whose public career bias been daily before us, I will take Mr Brodie, an old resident of the Thames, and I am not wrong in saying that all those resident here any number of years wilt be fully competent to take his measure as I possibly can, when he was the paid agent and general hanger-on of an influential firm in Auckland—and when so acting, were his actions altogether in accordance' with those of an honorable man ? and bare not tbose various acts of his tended in no small degree to the reverse of prosperity to many of us. It is not my intention to particularize instances, But I have no doubt many among' us have good reasons for attributing motives—from actions bearing a very shady aspect—* plausible in themselves, but ■ suicidal in their ultimate effects. Ido not Accuse the gentleman of being a spy upon the actions of others for the benefit of his employers, still I am credibly informed that his duties were of a very suspicious character, and of such a nature that any man retaining a spark of honour in him would repudiate with contempt. Ultimately he secures a seat at the Thames County Council for a very small constituency, and is by that body elected their Chairman, in which capacity his actions are open to free comment; His social position prior to his elevation to the sublime degree of Chairman is known toall who have resided here any length of time, and will not bear comparison with his present position An ample salary was granted him by his willing friends at that Council, which I believe has been several times increased, as the arduous duties he has to perform in that capacity are stated to increase ~so enormously, of late in particular, regardless of the necessity for economy, that more money might be expended on the roads of the County. Besides his salary, he has an allowance for travelling on the -County business, whether such travelling should be deemed necessary or otherwise. On one of bis travelling expeditions it was deemed necessory in the County's behalf to take a tour thro' the Waikato with the then Native Minister for six or eight weeks, when that gentleman was employed on business relating to hi* department through that district. This; tour is taken at an expense of one pound one shilling per day, with extras upon the pretence of begging money for his County. What control had the Native Minister over the funds of the Government for County purposes, I was and am still at a loss to discover. Apparently the journey was a pleasure trip to keep the company of the then Honourable John Sheehan, and may have been of great ! advantage to that gentleman at the time , with his natives, but I confess I am very obtuse on the point, and fail to see it in that light. Nor< can I see how such a ourney could or did in the most remote degree benefit the Thames Connty, although the Council voted him a considerable amount as remuneration for his great exertions on their behalf. I have often heard there are many who really can be very generous— with public money, I am informed the greater portion of the rates collected in the Thames County are swallowed up in the working-expenses appertaining to the. office, and I have a strong suspicion this is correct. Is this a state of things that ought to exist P I hardly think any of the ratepayers approve of the extravagant expenditure; but they evidently don't understand how their money is squandered,' and may be averse to stir, fearing to bring odium upon themselves. ■ Then I would ask you to consider whether he as Chairman ..has properly exercised his influence iv the supervision of the various contracts let by that body? or has he not winked at gross irregularities, . particularly displayed in the performance of some and.the flagrant tyranny displayed by the engineer with reference to others, < and when complaints have been made of such tyranny, has he in his capacity of Chairman, caused inquiry to be made and such complaints impartially adjusted? Imay unhesitating reply, No, he has not. Has be raised his voice in the' Council in any one instance for the benefit of the poor man, when he has complained of injustice dealt out to him by the County's Engineer? I say again,. No. He-has rendered no assistance to get the. poor man fair play, turning a deaf ear to his appeals for redress regardless of the looses sustained by him. One instance occurs to me at the present moment. The contractor for the Una road brought approved materials to the road of considerable quantity and at great expense, on the delivery of the bulk of that portion already approved, - the whole was condemned without specifying any reason. The men •ra in debt; money is refused them ; their funds are exhausted—they cannot pay their debts for materials and work done for them on the road. They cannot proceed with the contract, the works are seized by the Engineer, together with all materials on the ground, including the condemned portion; the fines, for the first time, are enforced for delay, the balance due for work done to that date is confiscated for fines, the deposit money retained, and they are sent adrift with nothing for ' their labor and outlay. The contract is re-iet at a much higher figure, no doubt with the usual understanding •of County contracts; the con« demned materials are used up in the formation of the road, and passed and approved of by the Countjr Engineer as of the required quality, and all thiugs Sroceed as pleasantly as marriage bells. io payment is made to. the first contractors for materials condemned upon them, but used by his successor to the County's benefit; no redress or compenwtion is offered them for the loss and injury, nor is the Chairman's voice heard in their behalf advocating their cause in bis place at the Council, although privately he consoles the men with sympathy, fordoes he deem it any portion of his duty as Chairman to enquire into the truthfulness of the contractor's statements, nor lay the ease before the Council m a , lanner calculated to assist the men, bufc I -'ietly assumes the Engineer's statements JJre correct, and the others erroneous and with *>ut foundation. * T 8 t man whose actions are so flagrantly imUMt '* and who can exercise and allow his offi *rs t0 «ercise an extent of revonae fc « supposed injuries, ns was the JJJJin tl preferred to, a fit and proper