The Bruce Herald. TOKOMAIRIRO, DECEMBER 16, 1904.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 97, 16 December 1904, Page 4

The Bruce Herald. TOKOMAIRIRO, DECEMBER 16, 1904.

Artful politicians, whilst smiling in their beards, always solemnly deprecate the raising of any political issues between town and country people. They turn the whites bf their eyes heavenwards, and deplore in sorrowful tones that anyone should be so lost to all

ideas of patriotism as to advocate the. consideration of any political question, based on a town v. country issue. In fact, we have been told by an eminent statesman, in a voice thrilling with emotion, that he who raises such an issue is " a traitor to hf_ country !" But why or how anyone becomes a traitor for so doing has never been divulged, and history shows that the traitor of to-day may become the patriot of to-morrow. Of course politicians use words chiefly for the purpose of disguising their thoughts, and are not to be taken too seriously. They will, however, before long have to face, with something better than a phrase, the many political questions which are arising between the towns and the country. This is patent to those who watch the trend of affairs in this colony, and the day is fast approaching when country people will also wake up to the necessity of protecting their interests in the same live manner as townspeople now look after their public interests — often at the expense of country districts. Amongst other matters, where this condition of affairs exists, is the question of the control of charitable aid, to which we have referred on several occasions. In Otago we find that the Bruce County Council stands apparently alone in its efforts to wake up public opinion on the necessity/or reform, and or justice being done counties in the expenditure of charitable aid funds. Councillors Mosley and Begg, who have taken the leading part in this matter, deserve every credit for their praiseworthy efforts, and the Council is to be congratulated on its determination to sift the question thoroughly to the bottom. But the other county councils in Otago seem to be slumbering on the question, which is of the most vital importance to them and to their ratepayers. In this connection it will have been noticed that the Bruce County Council, after repeated rebuffs, obtained a return cf the year ended 30th September, 1904, from the Benevolent Institution, but that body, or its clerk, significantly failed to state the amount of outdoor relief expenditure in Dunedin. These facts go to show that the Trustees are very anxious not to disclose the great expenditure for relief in Dunedin. But the return shows that nearly every county council is paying far more, to the Institution than it receives in reliei. Thus : County Levy. Payments made. Bruce £342 £182 Ciutha ... .. 414 221 Maniototo 183 IS2 ios Taieri 433 256 Tuapeka 209 301 12s Vincent ... . 206 3°°4 S Waikouaiti 170 14910s Waihemo 136 23 6s These figures speak for themselves. But as we have said, while the Bruce County Council is fighting for justice, the other councils are doing nothing. In Canterbury however, the country contributors to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards lately turned up in force ; the country delegates secured a majority on each Board, instead of allowing the city to put in city men, as has been the custom in every province for years. The result of this will be that for the ensuing year at any rate, in Canterbury these Boards will be governed by country people, instead of by town members, and no doubt there will be far less extravagance of these funds in Christchurch. The action of the country delegates in Canterbury is certainly worthy of the attention of the county councils of Otago, and it is to be hoped that next year a determined effort will be made to have a country majority on the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. At present the country districts pay most of the money spent by these institutions, and have hardly any country representatives on them. . If Otago follows Canterbury's lead it will be but one step on the long road which will have to be taken by country disricts, before their voice will be heard in Parliament denouncing the present reckless extravagance of charitable aid, and compelling country members to enforce legislation reforming the whole system.