Friend Michael.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5965, 18 October 1890, Page 3

Friend Michael.

[to the kditob. I

Sib, —Kindly allow rue to refer to another little matter in Mr Gannon's speech at the j Gaiety Theatre anent tho " Free Laborers' i Association," Mr J. N. Williams, and the [ payment of rates. Michael informed his he arers that Mr William." had a sheep run north ol Glsborne, on which fifty-nine " free laborers" were employed. (Tho fact of giving employment to fifty-nine men on one station seemed wicked in the eyes of Michael and his supporters). These fifty-nine "free laborers," Michael said, all voted one way, and returned their man ; that two months after that man was returned the Cook County was subdivided, and the County of Wniapu formed, and this is what Michael says was the result: — "This was a pecuniary gain to Mr Williams, because he then escaped paying the usual county rates, that being the object of cutting off the northern part of Cook county. There then was a dead loss to the workinutnen generally, because there was less niouey to bo paid in the opening ud of the county by moans of roads and other works." Now, Sir, it strikes me forcibly that Michael's logic was rather peculiar. It was received, nevertheless, with unbounded enthusiasm by his intelligent admirers. In tho first place tho election referred to took place before the question, of " free laborers " agitated the public mind hore, or whs even thought of. In the second place, I should think that rates will have to be paid in the Waiapu county just the same as in Cook county, and the fact of it being a new county the chances are that more i money will have to be expended, and more rates paid ; and, if so, I am certain that Mr Williams will not be behindhand in the payment of same. I have just been reading, Sir, ' the Gisborue papers again, and from them I am induced to think that there are grave doubts as to Michael being a real " Simon Pure" io discharging tho responsibilities necessary to keep local bodiofl afloat. In tho schedule of liabilities presented to his creditors I find tho Cook County set down at £13 15s lid, Whataupoko Road Board .£(), Waimatii Road Board £5, being £24 15s lid to tho threo bodies named. Now I Just wonder, Sir, how it would be if Mr Williams and the other wicked Tories in the Poverty Bay district were to treat the County Council and Road Boards in *;ho manner Mioh.iol has done ? How many laborers would be employed ? how much money would be expended"? and how many roads would bo opened up iv the Cook County and tho Whatnupoko and Waimata Road Board districts ? and whether or not "it would be v de»d loss to the working men generally P"—l am, &c, Mickey Fbke. ISth October. 1800.