MR MASSEY'S IMPRESSIONS.

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1914, Page 11

MR MASSEY'S IMPRESSIONS.

(To th Editor.)

Sir, —On the cover of your issue of May 1 appears what is styled "Mr Massey's Impressions." It is quite evident, says Mr Massey, that the great bulk of the settlers approve of the work that has been done by the present Government. Sir, Mr Massey is only "blowing," as someone said during his town hall speech. How many settlers are there who approve of the present Government's action in placing all kinds of stumbling-blocks in the way of opening up the mineral wealth that is known to exist in the North, and refusing to assist the developing of this source of wealth by monetary assistance, whilst for the same , purpose large sums of money are given elsewhere? I enclose letter and cutting in proof. Application time after time has been made by the Whangarei County Council, who are aware that it means progress of the North, but always with the same result. Had the Liberal Government been in power, I have not the least doubt that they would have rendered the small assistance asked for, as they did when in office before. Someone has said that a man who makes two blades of grass grow where one only grew before is a benefactor to his country. If that saying is true, how much greater a benefactor" is the man who opens up avenues to settle and employ hundreds of men,, women, and children where formerly pei'haps none lived and worked hefore? Such, Sir, is the man who will undertake all kinds of hardships and .disappointments 1 in prospecting, and he should be assisted in a far greater degreie than those companies stated in the cutting enclosed; for these companies are wealthy and have never,,done the pioneering work. Let Mr Massey take a vote of the settlers here on the question of whether they aprove of the Government's action in this respect, and he will find that instead 'of approving they disapprove. The settler knows that mining means, population, and population "means power, and power means a better chance of getting good roads and some of the .benefits of civilisation. Why, Sir}, the Ohinemuri county gets a revenue. of something like £30,000 per year from mining, and the money goes upon the s roads, and so we see the reason they have such good roads. What mining has done for one place it will do for the North. That is, if Mr Massey does not let some of the ratters in his pay hoodwink him, as was tried over the Hauraki leases. And, Sir, there is in the North mineral of just as great a value as In the Ohinemuri district, and if given a fair share of State assistance it would soon be discovered. I wonder, Sir, if Mr Mander and Mr Reed are going to shut eyes to" this injustice done to their electorates and the North in general. Are they so. tied to> the party chariot that they will remain dumb? Time will tell.—l am, etc.,

T. MITCHELL.

Pu'hipuhi., The enclosures referred to are as follow:—■

RE APPLICATION FOR SUBSIDY

Sir, —I have the hpnour,';by direction of the Minister of Mines, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th irist., your application for a subsidy of £25 towards the cost of driving 100 ft on a cinnabar-bearing lode in the Puhipuhi district. In reply I have to state that the Hon. Mr Fraser has given this matter very careful consideration, but regrets he cannot see his way to accede to your request, and the application must accordingly be declined. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, H. J. H. BLOy, Under-Secretary. Mr T. Mitchell, Puhipuhi, "Whakapara.