The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1917.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4460, 30 January 1917, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1917.

The discussion on local public works

Is it a “Square Deal?”

expenditure which was held at the auuual meeting of

the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, should serve a very useful purpose, it will be noted from tin .marks of the members v-tat keen dissatisfaction is felt in this regard over tlu- treatment which is being meted out in this district. Opinion was, however, divided on the question as to what should be done in the matter. There was, it will be seen, a section of members whose feelings inclined towards the making of uie strongest possible protest against the neglect on the part of the authorities so far as this district is concerned. On the other hand the Chairman and several other members-made the point that it would be very injudicious, on account of the war, to hamper the Government by insisting on greater ' activity in connection with the prose-! cution of public works at the present j juncture. In the end a motion in favor of the resuscitation of the bailway League was withdrawn in favor of a proposal that a committee should he set up. to gather information on railway matters to -place before a public meeting. Wo must say that it should come as no surprise that great dissatisfaction should Im expressed in connection with the scant attention which is being paid to this important

district’s railway requirements,which, by the way, have become more urgent ” —if such a state of affairs could he possible—as a sequel to the harbor trouble. It would, of course, he quite a different matter if the Government, on account of the war, had slowed down generally in the construction of public works to the extent that is so noticeable in this district. In such an event no complaint such as was made at the meeting in question would hold good. But what other alternative is there but to protest and protest vigorously—when it is only too apparent that this district, since the outbreak of the war, has not had fair treatment as compared with what, has been the case in many other districts which are not deserving of anything like so much consideration especially when it is remembered how badly this district has been neglected in the past? We are afraid, however, that the latest protest has come too late to be of .any real service. If tnop remarks which were made in opposi- J tion to further new works at the pre- j sent juncture by members of the Mili- j tary Appeal Board at its local sittings have the backing of the authorities it would seem very probable that the Government next session will stand for a reduction of public works expenditure for the coming financial year to the .lowest possible limit. Mr. Bright’s view that, although other districts may be obtaining money by “backstairs influence,” this district should set a good example by not' pressing for heavier public works expenditure at the present juncture is beside the real point. The local Chamber of Commerce should insist that a fair share of the amount voted for public works in this district should be expended in this district. If, on account of the war, public works expenditure in this district is brought practically to a standstil, a similar condition of things should prevail in every other district. This distinct has been far too easy going in the past, and if it does not wake up for the future it will continue long behind in the race for necessary public works But, as we have suggested, the protest on this occasion may prove to be ill-timed. It will, however, lie a distinct step forward if, am a sequel to the proposed public meeting, a strong and representative Railway League is established. Such an important body will, at all events, have a very useful purpose, even if, on account of a probable drastic curtailment of public

'works generally for a time, its main function should, at the outset, be to see that this district gets a fair share of the aggregate expenditure. When the end of the war comes—and everyone will trust that the end is not now far distant—the proposed new local body should be in a strong position to press home an irresistible demand that public works votes adequate to the real needs of this district are granted—and, what is more, expended.