The Daily Times. The oldest Manawatu journal: Established 1875. MONDAY, JAN. 14, 1884.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1150, 14 January 1884, Page 2

The Daily Times. The oldest Manawatu journal: Established 1875. MONDAY, JAN. 14, 1884.

The Hon. Mr Mitchelson has been interviewed at Auckland by several deputations, and has made certain promises to assist roads which appear to. be m. direct opposition to the spirit- of the Road and Bridg.es Construction Aci. That -Act ■ wa's intended to put a stop to the worrying' of Ministers and the botliering of the iHouse regarding works of local interest., Either Mr Mitchelson does not know this, of he is simply ignoring the fact ; unless, indeed (and perhaps this is the correct explanation) the Ministry recognise that that Act has broken down, that the counties will not be put off with £1500 per annum, and are thus hinting to the latter that they had better drop down to the altered circumstances and apply early for the crumbs that may be about next session. We have of course seen a Ministry before to-day "rig" the political money market to affect the voting of the constituencies at next election, and if it is a part of the Ministry policy to drop the Roads and Bridges Construction Act next session m order to bring the Ministry itself into direct contact with the constituencies, holding a bunch of carrots before the taxpayers m order to lead them into voting for Ministerial candidates, we fancy the device will be seen through. At any rate we find it difficult to understand on, what grounds Mr Mitchelson has promised to place on the estimates sums for Panmure road, deepening Qnehunga wharf channel, roads north of Auckland, and other matters, all of which should either come within the duties of the local bodies or within the scope of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act.