WHY WE DESIRE A CHANGE IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1486, 22 December 1884, Page 2

WHY WE DESIRE A CHANGE IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

<» (To the Editor Inangahua Times. Sir. — But little fault can be found with the late County Chairman on personal grounds. He is fitted by his business capacity and manners for the position he lately tilled. Why then should there exist this growingfeeliiiginthe breasts of alarge section of the community thata change in tho representation of Keefton is absolutely necossaiy ? It is with Mr Brenuaii, ;i3 the suave and crafty representative of the block-vote \ as the representative of class usurpation — not with Mr Brenuan as the County representative merely that our quarrel lies. Years ago, when County Government was first established Mr Brennan's business qualifications received the recognition of the community who united in placing him in the position of Comity Chairman. We then, in our innocence ignored Mr Brennan's nationality and creed ; we forgot that he was an Irishman and Catholic ; we considered him as one of ourselves— a settler in a wilderness, sharing with us the bunions of Colonisation. Alas ? Tho power the community gave Patrick Brennan lias been used by him for purposes which the community did not contemplate. The County Chairmanship means, or has hitherto meant practically the control of the County Electoral Roll. How has that control been used \ Why, if I point to Crushington, saddled with a representative named Lynch ; to seven seats out of eight in the hands of — well, the Breunanites; to the large purchases of miner's rights on 31st December last; to the condition of tho roll for the Reefton Riding, niceiy stuffed with non-resident miner's right holders of one class, I think those who turn their eyes in the direction indicated will be satisfied. The County Chairmanship is not like the Presidency of the Hibernian Society a CatholicIrish position — yet it seems to be so regarded by the late Chairman and hia friends, who have to fetch Mr Clunan from Boatman's to act as Returning Officer in Reefton, and whose other acts are of a piece with thi. . Will any one deny that, with the exception of a very few ratepayers atill necessary to make a majority on polling day, (some of whom are made use of merely as stalking horses, or decoy ducKS to beguile unsuspecting innocents of their votes) the whole County following, officers, contractors, wages men, <&c., are drawn from one section of the community. The County Chairmanship is not a position constituted for tho purpose of controlling the elections for the House of Assembly, yet in this false light our late Chairman seemed to regard it, when, supported by Father Rolland,. and the County lerk he so well kept the clout of the Reefton polling booth at the recent election. Mr Brennan as the local figure-; head of Catholic Hibernianship considera control of the local body to ensure con* I trol of the election? for^the General > Aft) Bembly. Here lies the main spriug of hia policy. "Give us the County and we will secure the Electorate " is the cry of fehe party htygepresents. Give us the large revenu^^|6 patronage of the County and it will go .ward with us if we do not by a judicious distribution of the County patronage secure the seat in the General Assembly, andthusadvancua step towards therepeal of secular and tho establishment of sec arian education. We know that methods are not too uicely scrutinized by those who hold that " the end justifies the means," so power received as a trust from a whole community must be prostituted to the service of a section ; that power must be maintained in face of the iust resentment of the community — by roll manipulation ; by patronage lavished upon the faithful few ; doled out to men who _ are willing to sal) their political conscience ! for an outer for goods or a job on wages ; by threats of boycotting ; by flattery and cajalory, by denounciationsof blockvoting as immoral and bigoted (while all the while not a vote is left free by the denouueers): Last, but not least, by the skilful use made of Protestant traitors, who are sent in to split votes, so that the block may carry the day. Block voting is much to be reprobated and individual opinion should be free, but when freedom is threatened by an invader or tyrant the most independant races have for the time laid aside individual • liberty to gain the benefits of combination. I Let us imitate them for once j let us show | that there is something' which will bring us together, and make us forget our jealousies and rivalries. Let us silence the laughter of the block at the ease with which we can be duped and cajoled. Let us show that, although loth to tyranise, iwe will not be tyrannised over ; that although we are ready to give power to a Chinaman who will use it well, we will wrest it from a- Brennan who uses it badly., •- ■ lam, etc, SPURTS. Reefton, December 18th, 1884.