ELECTION PROMISES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11372, 15 May 1900, Page 3

ELECTION PROMISES.

to THE editor, Sir,—Just prior to the last general election the inhabitants of the T'pper and Lower Tairua districts, who have long patiently suffered the neglect of''their Parliamentary and county representatives, had their hopes raised by the aspiring candidates, who promised that many very necessary improvements should be effected if they were elected. The successful Government candidate promised much in the way of improved roads, new bridges, increased postal facilities, and telephone communication between the upper and lower landings. It is now five months since Mr. Jackson Palmer was returned as the Oliinenmri member, and our district remains in the samo neglected state as of yore. The Government grants that were to havo been immediately expended upon urgent works in this particular portion of ho Ohinemuri electorate have apparently melted into thin air, and wo are only aware that wo are represented at Wellington in a vague sort of way. That is anything but satisfactory. Roads we have practically none, and there is only an indifferent bridle 1 track between Pnriri and tire i Tairua upper landing, while between tho | latter place and Tairua (nine and a-lialf miles), i although there is a good deal of passenger j traffic, the total absence of bridges and tho j tendency of the track to run through the ad- ; jaccnt swamps, make* it impassable for footi passengers fully seven months of the year. j Several of the Thames county councillors paid 1 a visit of inspection to our district somo 1 time ago, and one of thorn afterwards declared at a Council meeting that ho would not care to undertake the same journey again for love or money. But I have not sinco heard of the said councillor putting forth any effort to mend the present disgraceful state of affairs. At tho last County Council election the ratepayers of tho Tairua district were practically debarred from recording their votes, as the nearest polling-booth was at Puriri, 22 and 31 miles distant from tho Tairua upper and lower landings respectively, and with very bad roads to travcrso in the bargain. No wonder the ratepayers in this district complain of the neglect (if their representatives both in the Thames County Council and in Parliament. By the way, the last wo heard of Mr. Jackson Palmer, M.H.R., ho was said to be with the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon at the Rotorua baths. Perhaps that may account for his having forgotten his election promises in this remote corner of the Ohinemuri electorate.— am, ef £'. „ WIDEAWAKE. Tairua, May 10,1900.