RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 593, 13 August 1913, Page 7

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker. The politicians at Wellington having recovered from vaccination have apparently got down to work in earnest and ar ebent on doing things before the session closes. Whether or not the iymph used in vccinating the legislators was up to the standard has not been disclosed, but the brand may have been the same as that prescribed by a Te Kuiti vaccinator for the plaintiff in the recent breach of promise case. If that i 9 so the absence of complaint is explained. However, the operation is over, and I tru3t our legislators will be content with the one operation no matter how pure the lymph.

Parliament appears to be getting closer by degrees to the legislation which intimately affects this district and numerous interesting possibilities are in the air. Unfortunately, our old friend, the Local Governent Bill soared so high in the atmosphere that all hope of reaching it this session has been abandoned. With respect to the same Bill, it is worthy of note that it has been in the air since before the dawn of aviation The Mackenzie Government made strenuous effort to pin it to mother earth but was foiled, and the elusive thing kited higher than ever. It looks as though the Government that gets a strangle hold on the Bill will earn the undying regard cf all save the newspaper men and the local bodies.

The Backblocks Local Bodies Association has done something at last to justify its existence, and the result of the delegates' mission to Wellington has already been circulated throughout the length and breadth of the land. It is fortunate that the Local Bodies Bill had not taken concrete and permanent form, otherwise the suggestion of the delegates would not have been available for incorporating in the measure. The gallant Major s triumph respecting main roads, and the County Chairman's comprehensive scheme are worthy of special mention, and as long as they do not get floated up to a too great altitude, will not freeze to death. By the way, mention has been made of the fact that the member for the district did not introduce the deuptation to the Minister. Nobody who knows C.K. will accuse him of want of energy or with failing to seize an opportunity to benefit his district As a matter of fact the deputation was thoroughly arranged by Mr Wilson, the day being fixed for Friday. In consequence of the County chairman having to attend the Hospital Board meeting at Hamilton on the Thursdav, he wa3 unable to reach Wellington before Saturday, and the day for receiving the deputation was altered to Monday. Mr Wilson had already made an engagement for Monday but left nothing undone to assure the success of the deputation.

Members of Parliament are airing a grievance which they have against some of their constituents and a foul blow is being aimed at a cherished privilege of the depjtationist. A newspaper paragraph states that members re3ert the importunities of con stituents who appear at the House and demand tickets for the gallery or a ten minutes' conversation in the lobby when important speeches are being made, or words to that effect. If the member does not place himself at the beck and call of every wandering voter he is apt to lose votes and acquire a degree of unpopularity. The members have my sympathy; not because of the interruption to an important speech, or to his concentration on the business of the House. There are many other reasons for resenting the importunities, and some courgeous or ingenuous member will probably blurt ; out the truth some day, and earn the undying gratitude of his fellow members. But they wont be fellow members long.

Dairying is spreading its influence throughout the district in a truly remarkable manner and the cult of the cow promises to supersede all other local interests. _Aria, Pio Pio, Marokopa and Te Kuiti factories are booming and threatening to break all previous records in a manner that will cause everything else to sit up and blink. Considering the roads and the other disadvantages under which the settlers labour the progress of the industry is amazing. It may seem strange to refer to roads as a disadvantage but there can be no other way of describing the majority of King Country roads. Some day in the dim and distant future one will doubtless be able to truthfully refer to the roads of the district in terms of commendation, That happy consummation will be achieved by the agency of the cow.

The local authorities in the Whangarei district evidently do things in a very amateur manner, and their financial operations apparently require the guidance of a master mind. According to a newspaper report the balance-sheet of the County Council has been tagged in consequence of theinclusion therein ot' items for banquet? to the Governor and a Prime Minister. Fortunately the Governor and Prime Minister referred to are now out of the country, and their feelings will not be harrowed by the sordid particulars. It is certainly fit and proper that who show such a lack of resource in respect to matters of pocial and political importance should be left to fight their own battles. imagine any King Country local body allowing _ such a thing to occur. K a Ministerial, visit meant a tag for every visit to the King Country there would be little room for anything but the tags on the balance sheets of the local authorities. The Whangarei Council should join the Backblocka Association.