NUTS BY LIBEL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 230, 29 December 1893, Page 8

NUTS BY LIBEL.

The leading topic for discussion for the past two weeks has been the Foreshore question. The question is of considerable moment to the rate payers of the County as their’s will be the gain if the case is decided in the County’s favour, and their’s the loss if against, the County. The importance of the case must be my apology for referring at some length ;o the matter. I would premise my remarks by saying that in my opinion the County should avoid the law as much as possible, for it’s a dangerous tool to meddle •with, as this County has proved to its cost on several occasions, Have the County a good case to go before the Court of Appeal with 1 Very questionable. The case has already,gone against

us in the Supreme Court. (I use the word ‘us ’ advisedly because it is in reality the ratepayers of the district who are parties to the action ; the councillors are merely representatives of the ratepayers, and unless the ratepayers publicly object to their representatives' actions they really endorse them, for ‘ silence gives consent.’) Were I not confident that the Councillors had already given the matter their serious consideration I would urge them to pause again before going further in the matter. It sometimes happens that the verdict of the Supreme Court is reversed in the Court of Appeal, but in the majority of cases the verdict or judgment is upheld. There can, I think, he little doubt hut that Mr Justice Oonolly laid the matter—unofficially—before his brother Judges and received their views on the matter. The solicitors’ advice on the matter is worth but little ; they say there is a ‘ good case for appeal.’ Yes, it may be fairly good, but not good enough to alter the judgment. The same solicitor is likely to appear in the Court of Appeal as in the lower Court, and what chance is there of his making a better case out than before ? The result to say the least is doubtful, and in a case of this sort where the funds used to defray the costs belong to the public, it is advisable I think to err on the safe side, and rather than go to law on the matter give the opposing party the benefit of the doubt. I very much regretted to see that individual Councillors had guaranteed a portion of the costs. If this would prove anything to strangers it would he that they are in some manner personally interested in the matter. Personally I accept the statement of the Chairman and other Councillors that they are snot interested in the matter further than it is 1o the benefit of the district at large, and join in your own view Mr Editor that we ought to be proud at having as our representatives men who are willing to risk their own money . for the good of the County, but I still think their action was ill-judged. But allowing that the Council wins the case ; supposing that Mr Justice Conolly’s judgment is squashed, what, right have they to assume charge of a piece of land that was given for a specific purpose—(that purpose being a public road, and not a row of shops)—and use it for other purposes. I hold that they have no just right, whatever legal right they might possess. It makes no difference to me that the same has been done in other eases, 'two wrongs do not make a right.’ Councillors, if not too late pause yet again. You may have the law on your side but not justice most assuredly in ‘ Libel’s ’ opinion, [Possibly had Libel heard the pros and cons more fully he would not speak so assuredly. EdJ There is another question, asked at one of the political meetings at Dargaville previous to the election, which I have often thought of having a small say upon, but have always deferred my remarks to a more convenient season. I 'do not know that that convenient season has arrived but I’d better have my say on the subject and ease my mind. The question re 1 compassionate allowances ’ to the relatives of deceased Statesmen or Civil servants is one which our Parliament should take in hand at their earliest opportunity, and see if they cannot make a reform ©f some During the last parliament three at least of these ‘ compassionate ’ grants were made, and I would ask what claim the recipients had for State grant ? No one recognises more fully than the writer the good accomplished by the two leading Statesmen who passed away during the last three years, no one has a higher opinion of their worth ; and I fully believe they went down to the grave before their time owing to the worry and anxiety they were subject to. But again I ask what claim have their widows to a grant from the Treasury ? Par be it from me to say one disrespectful word of any of the ladies concerned ; they are I doubt not highly estimable ladies, but I fail to see how they are entitled to the taxpayers’ money. They were not left in poor circumstances and there are dozens of women in the colony, I have no hesitation in saying, who arc as estimable as the others alluded to, and who are moreover in distress and need. I hold that they are all equally entitled to ‘ compassionate allowances ’; then why this inequality ? Let us hope that our legislators will give the matter their serious consideration, and if it is thought fit to recognise our respect for a deceased statesmen by a present to his widow surely there can be found a means whereby our wish will be carried out in a more befitting way than by a grant from the Government coffers. It has too much the appearance of State bounty, which I scarcely think it is meant for.

It is satisfactory to note that the Slaughterhouse Inspector gives a favorable report of the Slaughter-houses in this County. There is nothing of greater importance for the public than to see that these places arc kept in good order. There was one statement in the Inspector’s report which I thought a trifle amusing. He said ‘ that owing to the butchers in the adjoining County paying no license fee or slaughtering fees they were enabled to undersell our own butchers lam given to understand that the license fee is one pound per year, and (he other charges about three pence per head, aud I would like the Inspector to inform us how much cheaper per puuud butchers in the other County could sell their meat than those in Hobson County. I’ve tried it hut il’s too many for me. One thing is certain, the gentleman who now occupies the manifold position of County Engineer, Clerk. Slaughterhouse Inspector, etc., is ever on the alert for the interests of the County he serves Long may he retain his position—plural numbers. Some six months ago Mr Robert Thompson (Marsden Thompson) when addressing some of his constituents said that a member’s influence in Parliament depended on the majority he received at the ballot-box. According to this mode of reckoning Mr Thompson himself should be one of the most influential men of the present Parliament, for I believe that with the exception of Sir George Grey and one other, he polled the largest majority in the Colony. 11l keep my eyes on you Mr Thompson to note the great influence exercised by you.