WANGANUI CITY SEAT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19442, 30 October 1925, Page 5

WANGANUI CITY SEAT.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In his speech at the Opera House Mr Veitch modestly refrained from telling his audience of the things he omitted and neglected to do as an M.P., but he stressed the fact that he had been the means of putting through some local Bills and so. His statement brings forcibly to the minds of up-river settlers Mr Veitch’s action in rushing through the House at some ungodly hear of the morning (he chose his time well) a Bill he had been hand feeding on the quiet for some of his friends. I allude to the River Trust Amendment Bill. (We read Hansard up here and know a lot of things besides sheep and dairy farming). The aims of this River Trust Bill were to enable an irresponsible body of nonbusiness men to acquire on contract (note carefully the acquire) steamers, etc., but the most iniquitous part of the Bill was that giving power to the Trust to specially rate the settlers for the cost of this Gilbert and Sullivan scheme. Was, or was not Mr Veitch aware that the settlers had been for years past trying to get the River Road opened on purpose to obviate the heavy burdens placed on them by the river service? Of course he knew, but it was not to the interest of his friends that a road should be made. Mr Veitch knows well that for over 30 years past settlers have paid heavy rates on these river properties, getting nothing in return but a bridle track. In addition to the rates, everything the settlers produce and everything they require as necessaries of life —wire and material of every description —have to pay a heavy freight to a monopolist river service. People in the town talk of the high cost of living; let them come up here. If the other Bills Mr Veitch takes credit for piloting through Parliament are on a par with this historic River Trust Bill, then all I can say is that the electors of Wanganui are either apathetic or a long-suffering and forgiving body of people. It is astonishing, when one comes to think of it, how easily a man can hoodwink his public for many years into believing him a marvel of astuteness, but when at last their eyes are opened, goodness! what a long drop he gets. In another of his speeches Mr Vditch (wearing a halo of financial wisdom) advocated a babyish scheme to raise annually £10,000,000 by means of increased tourish traffic. He had in mind the Wanganui River and the interest of his friends when he propounded this scheme? And did he see as in a vision a prospect of unlimited rates being squeezed out of needy settlers to foster an extended river service? Heaven only knows what is in Mr Veitch’s mind—how could heaven know when Mr Veitch does not himself know? The only interest the up-river | settlers have in Mr Veitch is that he should be promptly relegated to that I obscurity from which he should never I have emerged as a factor in political I life. A real live member having the interest of Wanganui at heart would have lent his assistance years ago to have the River Road pushed on. Mr Coates came up some time back to see the position of things for himself and was sympathetc. Since that visit he is doing what lie can. With a Reform member for Wanganui City the settlers here feel sure they will get some measure of justice and fair dealing. A far-sighted city member would realise that the opening of the River Road really means far more to Wanganui city than even to the settlers themselves. For one tourist who would come by river boat, one hundred would come by motor if a road was available. As everyone knows, the beauties of Wanganui’s greatest asset, the river, can only be seen to advantage from the banks. The decks of a grimy little river steamer and the accompanying discomforts drive any sense of the | beautiful or the artistic out of the tourist, whose dearest wish is to get out at his destination with all speed. Mr Coull, when you are elected as member for Wanganui, just keep the joint interests of the city and the river settlers in a special compartment of your mind and one easily accessible.— I am, etc.,

RIVER SETTLER. Atene, October 26, 1925.