A Radical condemns the Radical H.I.P.S
The surveyor's Fees. At the same meeting, Couns. Eldridge said there were many complaints among ratepayers of the £50 paid to the Surveyor for getting out the quantities for drainage A; and as the Road Committee had recommended that tenders be invited for sections B and C, a long and confused discussion ensured on the question of paying for the getting out the quantities for the contractor. Coun. Vidler contended that Mr. Laing was not entitled to any extras, the agreement being that he should give up the whole of his time to the Board for the amount of his salary. Here Coun. Vidler was right, this part of the agreement being very precise, and for the purpose of shutting out extra charges which had caused so much unpleasantness and led to the dismissal of Mr. Laing's predessor(sic)in office. As to complaints out of doors, said Ald. Ticehurst "I care very little about, seeing that the grumblers are very often disappointed contractors." The present, however, knows that it was not disappointed contractors, but responsible ratepayers who complained, and who, knowing the conditions upon which the Surveyor was engaged, held the expression of Ald. Ticehurst to be unworthy of him. On the motion of Ald. Clement, it was decided that Mr. Laing receive £50 from the board and 21s. each from those who tendered.
Political Independence
A letter to the Editor of the Hastings and St Leonard News, dated Nov 4th is here reproduced:-Sir,
The result of the elections last Saturday seems to have given great annoyance to many of the Liberals of this town, especially to those who belong to the H.I.P.S. I am no less annoyed myself at some of the West Ward doings; but I attribute the whole to the gradual process of civic deterioration induced by the domineering impudence of the ruling section of the Radical party, and to the natural exasperation of those who were sought to be beaten by a cunning that has but recoiled upon itself. Sir, I am a Radical, and one of the many who protest at being dictated to by any club whatever as to my course at a municipal election. We do but fight Toryism with Tory weapons if we adopt the very corruptions against which Radicalism has lifted up its voice so loudly. Those of us, Mr. Editor, who are more attached to Liberal principles than inclined to do homage to the dignity of certain Liberal professors, feel heartily thankful to you for the independent way in which you have always denounced political meddling in the Council elections. You have made yourself enemies, but they are among persons whose judgements are worthless because warped by personal spite or party pay. The true Liberals - and amongst them I know are men who were radicals when it was a credit and a virtue to be so - men who opposed Toryism when the leading H.I.P.S. were babes in their mother's arms. These true Liberals approve of your doings, and thank you. It matters little what name diction bears. It is the essence of despotism whether it springs
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