ELECTIONEERING BRIBERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 14

ELECTIONEERING BRIBERY.

W. ' i VT ? on s Administration has voT>r I i' ercly lia V lct \ ° ver too coals in jour columns and elsewhere for allowed corrupt misuse of public fund 'and Premises of grants for various worfe with a view to influence the forthcoming olec tJons; but, with vour leave I think T can show that, in at least one not at ,11 unimportant matter, it is entirely blameless in this respect. The excellent natural harbour now known as "Westhaven," but formerly as West Wanganui, on the West Coast of tho County o£ Collingwcod, serves a longneglected but now rising district. This includes two largo sawmills, about 10,000 acres of good land, almost entirely improved, and carrying a large .stock o! sheep and cattle, owned by closa on a score of independent farmers; about 20 000 acres, in addition, of very good grazhi" land m its virgin state, all open for sale" am | very largo deposits of coal Ihe harbour, absolutely the best, in its natural advantages, of all those on the "West Coast of the South Island, has for several decades, been calling aloud for a decently reliable- survey. The existing one is incorrect at all points, and, consequently, tho development of the district is seriously retarded, because shipowners refuse to send their vessels in to" tat* away timber, or other products, excent at very high rates. ■ " •' In view of thoso facts. Hie council of Collingwood. County recently forwarded to the Minister for Marine, a petition s sued by almost all the residents of any jcight,-asking that a<new survey might bo made The reply was not, "Oh, certainly, tlioso who vote for us, they are he people we will help," but a refusal on aboufS irould cost

A respectful rejoinder to the effect that it was submitted, on very able authority, that about ..£IOO should suffice, was no even replied to. Tho Nelson Chamber of Commerce then took the matter up and strongly urged tho desirableness of the work, but it appears that all it took by its motion was the reply that the Ministry nad no money to spend on such gewgaw's as rendering a good natural harbour serviceable to the surrounding inhabitants, and to the seafaring public generally; and, apparently, as a second thought that such a. survey must be made by tho AdSir, tho taking of soundings only by J "> J-y has, I believe, been hi.l tified by tho fact that a survey had be" n rnado by the Admiralty. The Admfr" alty survey, of tho Three Kin»s must have been incorrect, or why send ho lerra Nova?, ■ The Admiralty survey of Y«3thaven is misleading, so, why not send the Terra Nova, or have what is required dono in a less expensive manner? There seems to be neither bribery nor logic in this business. μ^i - ' 1 ' 11 ! 8 ' ,jarbour is in the "safe" Ifotueka electorate.—l am, etc.,

COASTWISE MARINER, Wellington, sth October, 1911.