The Wairoa Bell, AND Hobson County Gazette. FRIDAY, JUNE 9th.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 201, 9 June 1893, Page 5

The Wairoa Bell, AND Hobson County Gazette. FRIDAY, JUNE 9th.

Electors just now are receiving the views of their representatives on things past, present, and future, and the will of the people is being manifested in many places. The report of a meeting in the public press does not always give a clear idea of the views of those piesent, but from the many reports which are now being received from the various parts of the Colony it seems pretty clear that the present Government possesses to a large degree the confidence of the people. Great enthusiasm has characterised many of the meetings wheie one or other of the Ministers has enunciated the policy of the party now in power, whilst on the other hand the speeches of those in the Opposition have been but tamely received, Messrs Fisher, Duthie, and W. F. Buckland have met with warm opposition from those whom they were elected to represent, and already two of them have hinted at their retirement. This course is a commendable one for all those who find themselves out of touch with the bulk of electors ; and those who adopt it will be accounted far more worthy than those who trim their sails, or turn their coats, in endeavours to maintain their positions. Electors are not slow in finding out those who are moved by dollars and in whose breasts patriotism is unknown. There was a time when the character of

the House of Representatives was painted very darkly, and not perhaps without reason ; but time has wrought a change, and tlie work of men such as were sneeringly termed “ skinflints ” has elevated the tone of our Legislative Chambers. Wo cannot expect, however, that only men of good sterling character will now seek to enter the House for the prize is too tempting a one to let slip without an effort, and many very undesirable persons will seek to gain admission. Electors must be wary and viligant and look carefully at those who would rush forward on a sudden wave of popular feeling such as the Austrian question. The only hope of a shady politician is to raise a catch cry at election time and rush in on a wave of momentary, worked-up popularity. In this district the eve of last election was memorable for the agitation in reference to the Gumdiggers’ Union, and the flaring prospectus of a Gumdiggers’ Co-operative Company, and now as an election is again drawing near we have in some quarters as great an outcry on the Austrian question as if an armed force had landed on our shores and the bayonets were at our throats. The difference then would probably be that those who are now’so loud would be in hiding, whilst those who have moved and acted quietly would be marching to repel the invader. By what principle of justice and fellowship can the extreme hounding down of these poor deluded aliens be defended ? That they have been deluded few will deny; they have been led to believe that on our gumfields large sums of money were to be easily made, and to reach them they have spent time and money. We are informed by one who has become acquainted with some of the Austrians that they were induced to come here on account of grossly exaggerated reports of our gumfields, and in oider to reach here some of them sold houses and land and expended in passage money about £2B. On the gumfields many of them go ont day after day and return with little or no gum, and bitterly denounce those who’”by glowing reports induced them to leave their homes. True it is that they are saving and niggardly but it is only to earn sufficient to enable them to return from whence they came for they do not wish to be stranded on a foreign and, judging by the outcry, inhospitable shore.

As to the reliability of the above information we cannot vouch, but it appears very reasonable. If the Austrians have come to our gumfields with the idea of making small fortunes they will most assuredly be greatly disappointed, and the accounts they send home will most probably cneck rather than foster the invasion. The Government moved by quiet and reasonable appeal has wisely appointed a Gumfields Commission, and diggers and others may rest assured that full enquiry will be made into all matters within the scope of their commission. The Commission will supply Ministers and the country with full information concerning the character, mode of life, and objects of alien diggers, as also on many other matters in connection with the gumfields, and Parliament will then be in a position to act wisely and effectively.

We would advise electors to mark well those politicians who are notv so loud in abuse of the Austrian and before giving them their confidence to make a few enquiries concerniug them. “ Old Xaihu’s ” clippings have just been put into our hands and we cannot more appropriately close this article than by referring our readers to “ Knihu Clippings ” on another page. Those who write from motives of self-in-terest should cultivate good memories for their own sakes.