["Nor'-West Ports" (Letter to the Editor), The West Australian, Tuesday 12 July 1910, page 2]
NOR'-WEST PORTS.
To the Editor.
Sir,--In thanking you for past favours, I should like to crave further space in your columns in reply to the letter over the nom de plume "Vindex." He appears to have got somewhat tangled up, as I shall show to his discomfiture. If "Vindex". had tried to prove his statements instead of trying to evade my challenge he may have helped his cause. But losing his temper is a sign that he is getting the worst of it. I do not mind him being so sarcastic, I rather like it. But when he takes up so much space in his letter with innuendoes I would point out that abuse is no argument. If the statements in his notes which I took exception to were true, why does he alter them in his reply to my letter? His notes on the Government visit read: "At Point Sampson a little town is in course of erection, and such buildings as are removable at Cossack are being removed to the new town." In his reply to my letter of the 5th we read: "I am well aware there is no town at Point Siimpson yet." Why did he try to lead the public to believe that people had started to erect a new town there, and that they were removing their residences from Cossack? . Again, your correspondent strays from the facts. His first notes read: "The two publicans are only waiting the transfer of their licences." In his reply to my letter we find: "At least one of the publicans is already moving to get his landlord to apply for a transfer of licence." I leave it to your readers to judge which of his statements is correct, if either. Allow me to state again that there as only a temporary shanty to shelter the men working at the Government wood and iron goods shed, and a small one-roomed strtcture erected for the agent of the steamer Koombana at Point Sampson, not as "Vindex" states, for the agent of the shipping companies. Dalgety and Co. are the agents for the largest shipping interests there. Is there any indication of that shrewd company throwing away good money on buildings there?, In regard to Cossack people clamouring for town lots at Point Sampson, I am sure this is only imagination on the part of "Vindex." Is he not aware, or does he wish to hide the fact, that these lots were thrown open for selection to owners and occupiers of Cossack as a bait, on a two-years' lease, by paying a rental of £3 and £2 per annum according to position. Also that any leaseholder could have his lot submitted to auction at any time within two years, and in the event of the lot changing hands, the purchaser had to pay for all improvements? Moreover, Sir, I would like to ask how can the Cossack people be clamouring for the Sampson town lots when they are alreadly in possession? Although they have held them for upwards of right months, only one person has ventured to erect a small inexpenive structure on one of these selected lots. Does this look as if the people at Cossack were anxious to remove there? It appears to me that these lots are held purely for speculative purposes, in the event of any enthusiast like "Vindex" coming along to make an offer. Now in regard to the jetty at Point Sampson; if it has been slow in realising the dire predictions of prophets in the past that is because it has not received its first baptism yet. He overlooks this fact. Nothing approaching a cyclone has struck it since it was built. If "Vindex" has any idea of the stability of that pile of timber, he should be standing upon it when a strong north-east wind is blowing, and the seas are dashing against it. If he felt its movements he would alter his opinion. However, I hope he will not be taking notes on it when the first cyclone does strike Point Sampson Jetty. In regard to the tramline, "Vindex" says it was not built with the idea alone that it would make copper mining boom. Allow me to freshen his memory a little. The Minister of Mines recommended the Government to build the line, and in a public speech to a Perth audience, nearly four years ago, stated that the line was absolutely necessary to make the low-grade copper mine near Roebourne pay. He dwelt on the wonderful developments that were likely to take place, and how the developments would make the line and jetty pay. If it was not built for the mine, was it built for the squatters to enable them to get their wool on the ships more cheaply and save the lighterage on their station upplies? In any case it does not pay, and never will pay on account of the heavy expenditure to keep it in repair. The line had not been long in use when a high tide washed over the low portion of it, and undermined it to such an extent that a gang of men had to be employed at considerable expense to repair it again, and there is continual expense going on. An engine was put on the line to please a few faddists to make it look up-to-date. The Government will have to replace it again with horses, unless they are prepared to reconstruct the whole of the line between Cossack, Point Sampson Junction, and Roebourne, which will entail heavy expenditure. "Vindex" states that the Government are satisfied with the earnings. I am afraid when they take into consideration the upkeep, there will be a different tale to tell. There are two departments concerned; the Harbour and Lights Department, and the Public Works Department, and the expenditure on both should be taken into account. When dealing with these matters the public are not so anxious to know what a correspondent thinks when dealing with public matters. They want facts pure and simple. I sympathise with "Vindex" in the awkward position in which he is placed, and forgive himn for using such a flattering nom de-plume when he has to resort to such tactics to bolster up a mere political job.
Yours, etc., J. H. ELLERY.
Perth, July 11.
