THE MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5806, 4 October 1879, Page 6

THE MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD.

TO THB BDIXOB OB THBITHKMOK TIICBB. Sib, —A good deal has lately been said about corrupting the Press daring the late elections. For the benefit and information of the money changers and squatters, I will give you an instance. Daring the heat of the Coleridge election—on Sept. s—four members of the Mount Somers Road Board assembled to transact the business‘bf the district. This they did by resolving to withdraw the Road Board advertisements from the Lyttelton Timet and Ashburton Mail —the only journals circulating here—and handing them over for six montns to a local opposition paper not then born. It seems that the Timet and Mail had deeply offended them by giving Mr E. G. Weight, the Liberal candidate, fair play and no favour. The four Road Board members are extensive wool-growers. Whatis the inference? Were they actuated by pure and honourable, or petty revengeful motives?! Have they prostituted their position as local representatives to influence the Press P Is it competent for men in places of public trust, to do with public advertisements as they would: with their own private advertisement? Some of the ratepayers intend to call them to account shortly. I mention this little affair,: because it shows the way in which public money is applied-by puny, narrow-minded; prsons, who are. revenging themselves on the independent and liberal portion of the Press s and its readers, by, using—not their own patronage, for they are too mean to possess such a thing—but the funds of the rate-: payers, as a means of punishing certain jour-, nals and enslaving others. I enclose the 1 names of the. four members referred to, so' that yon can hand them down to posterity if yon think proper.—l am, &0., A RATEPAYER.