Page 3 Advertisements Column 7

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4040, 9 December 1881, Page 3

Electoral ' " [iSTHtISnOIT.] TO THE ELECTORS OF THE COROMANDEL DISTRICT. GENTLEMEN,-Now we are on the ere of an Election, it ii well tot «■ to take a calm, and reasonable 'sorter, of the qualifications of the avrenU eeididatee for oar patrooage. First (Mp tlie list, ai being a man whose publiootteer has 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 will be folly competent to take his measure as I possibly can, when he was the paid agent and general hanger-on of an influential firmin - Auckland—and when so acting, were his actions altogether in accordance with those of an honorable man ? and bare not those rarious acts of his tended in no small degree to the rererse of prosperity to many of as. It is not my intention to \ particularize instances, but I hare no doubt many among us have good reasons for attributing motives—from actions bearing a rery shady aspect—plausible in themselres, 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; credibJy informed that his duties were of a rery suspicions , 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 rery 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 to all who hare resided here any length of time, and will not bear comparison jwith. tiis present position. An ample salary . was granted him by his willing friends'at that Council, which I beliere has befln sereral times increased, as the ardwqu duties he has to perform in that capacity are stated to inereese so enormpuslyVof 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 trarelling on the County business, whether such trarelling should be deemed necessary or otherwise.- On one of his trarelling expeditions it was deemed necessory in the County's behalf to take a tour thro' the Waikato with the then Natire Minister for nix or eight weeks, when that gentleman was em* ployed 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 Natire Minister orer the funds of the Gorernment for County purposes, I was and am still.at a loss to discorer. Apparently the journey waa a pleasure - trip to keep the oompany of the then Honourable. John Sheehan, and may hare been of great adrantage to that gentleman at the time with his natires, but I confess I am reiy obtuse on the point, and fail to see it in that light. Nor can I see how such! a journey could or did in the most remote degree benefit the Thames Connty, although the Council roted him a considerable amount as remuneration for his great exertions on their- behalf.: I hare often heard there are many who really can be rery generous—wWi public Money. I am informed the /greater portion of the rates collected in the Thames County are swallowed np in the ..working expenses appertaining to the office, and- 1. Mwa strong suspicion this ir correct. Is this: a ' state of things that, ought -to .exist P I hardly think any of the ratepayer* approve of the extravagant expenditure, but they . evidently don't understand-< blow •: their money is squandered, and* may be'arena to stir, fearing to bring odium > upon themselres. . • ;,1 *'i?..\ Then I would ask you to consider whether he as Chairman has; properly exercised his influence in the superrision of the rarious 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 hare been made of such tyranny, has .he in his capacity of' Chairman, caused inquiry to be made and such complaints impartially adjusted t T may unhesitating reply, No, he has not. Has be raised his roice in the Council in any one instance for the benefit of the poor man, when he has complainedl of injustice dealt out to him by the County's Engineer P I say again. No. He has rendered no assistance to get the poor man fair play, tuning a deaf ear to his appeals for redress regardless of the losses sustained by him. One instance occurs to me at the present moment. The contractor for the Una road brought approred materials to the road of considerable 2uantity and at great expense, on the . elirery of the bulk of that portion already approred, the whole was condemned without specifying any reason; The. mm—•re in^d^fet^-assS/irTfefiled them; their funds are exhausted—they cannot pay their debts for materials and work done I for them on the road. They cannot proceod with the contract, the works are seized by the Engineer, together with all materials on the ground, including the condemned portion*; (he fines, for the first {time, are enforced for delay, the balance due for work done to that date is oonfiaeated for fines, the deposit mohCJ retained, and they are sent adrift with noting:for their labor and outlay. The coritracM* re-let at a much higher figured no doubt with the usual understand' ing of County contracts; the condemned materials are used up in the formation of the road,' and passed and apptorfdof by the County t Kngineer as of the required quality, and all things proceed as pleasantly as marriage bells. No payment is mids to the first contractors for materials condemned upon them, but used by his successor to the County's benefit; no redress or.compensation is offered them for.the loss and injury, nor is the Chairman'? roice heard in their behalf adroeating their cause' in his place at the Council, although prirately he consoles the men with sympathy. Nor does he deem it any "portion of his duty as 'Chairman to enquire': into the truthfulness of the contractor's statements, nor lay the case before the Council in a manner calculated to assist the men, but quietly assumes the Engineer's statements are oorreot, and'the others erroneous and without foundation. ' . IsamanwhoeVactioaiattiofluraatly unjust, and who, can exercise, and allow his officers to exercise an extent of rerenge for supposed injuries, as was the ease in that referred to, a fit and proper