CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2225, 24 June 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all timos, but it must bo distinctly understood that this journal is in no way associated with tho opinions of its corrospondont».J THE PRICE OF BREAD. ['L'o THE EdXTOH.] Sir,—lt. is with interest- that one roads the remarks of “Father ol a Family” with reforonc to tho bread ring now existing in our, midst. Doubtless tho timo is now ripe when something must bo done. Is it possible that the residents el' Gisborne are asleep to the fact that they are being overcharged for their bread? Aro tlie citizens of Gisborne not strong enough to rise in a body and build a bakery of their own where they will be independent of all rings r Surelv a monopoly of this sort can never be allowed to continue! What lino of business is there more honorable than true. co-operation where the sole -aim is for the Benefit of all? In our midst wo liavo -a store - with ample vacant space Jo erect a building-suitable to all requirements; why not" mako., .application to the directors of this company for the lease of a site on which to erect a. co-operative bakery? It is rumored that tho bakers’ ring is determined to prevent cheap bread, and that lately through its machinations a bread contract lias been shamefully broken. If this bo so. then the only remedy lies in a co-operative bakery as I have suggested.—l am, etc., “CO-OPERATION.”

[To the Editor.] Sir.- —I have read with very great interest indeed the letter in your columns of this morning, nnent the prico of bread, the main staple of life, which is now, nil<l lias been lor some considerable time, ruling in this town of Gisborne. That the bread, also mo.it ring, of Gisborne is a powerful combine or pair of combines, iroes without saying. They both of them have done, and intend doing, just as they like in respect of the goods supplied to us'unfortunate consumers. in respect t 0 bread, it’s notorious that, let the flour come down in price as it may, bread still keeps at the orthodox ‘■four-pence per loaf, please,” and payable in advance at that. Whv. last- week, in my own house, I and my family were compelled to eat bread only partially -baked! It may be said. ”011, the remedy for this is in your own hands. If the bread supplied you was not fit to oat, then patronise some other baker! ’ To which 1 reply, I am only a- poor working man. My wife buys lrom two to three shillings worth of “coupons” at a time, and if the days’ purchase of bread is bad.', or indifferently halted, she cannot in justice to the butcher, who must be paid at week ond-s, go or send out for another shilling’s worth of bread. No, sir. the remedy to break up this gross bread, also meat monopoly is lit our own hands. Start co-operative bakeries and butcheries! There is ample room for two of each in Gisborne, merely t< ( supply us workers alone. iVliy the Poverty ißav CoOperative Association, already ill existence, tides not rise to the occasion and open a bakery and butchery, surprises'met If it is only more capital they want, then let them go around amongst us -workers, and wo will find it, and show these bread monopolists that we “’oriiv ’anded” won’t have no more of the prohibitive prices that these monopolists have forced on us, —I am, etc.. ‘ ‘ANOTHER FA THE 11 OF’. A FAMILY.” AYh itaupok'o, June 23.

A TAX ON WIDOWS. [To the Editor.] Sir. —Your correspondent, “'Married Man” deserves much commendation for his letter in your issue of yesterday oil the above subject. If I remember aright the -report to which lie referred suggested that 'Mr Eei-tej-’s idea was received with considerable amusement and was taken in anything hut a serious vein. I veil-' ture to say that that would be the attitude adopted by the general public right throughout New Zealand, as well as at Cheviot, and, sad to relate, that was liow “Married Man’s” letter was received by the people of Gisborne. But how good of “Married Man” to endeavor to enlighten our ignorance on such an all-impor-tant subject ! That we poor mortals should have gone for so many years without realising that- widows and bachelors were doing a Inigo injustice to the State i.y certainly surprising, to say the least of it, and your correspondent certainly merits our warmest thanks for s 0 kindly, if not conclusively, attempting to rectify the matter. 'Why. in such a- grave ouestion. and of such moment to the wellbeing of the dominion, did “Married Man” not bring it under the notice of the Prime Minister on his recent visit here, or of the Hon. McGowan, or even our over-worked Native Minister? 'Surely he failed to do his duty? Or is- it that after all ho is, like the southern aspirant for political honors, out to play the buffoon in a- vain endeavor to catch the fancy of a fickle public? I await with interest a further effusion from “Married man” and hope that this time he will, to use an Americanism, get down to “hard -tacks.” As a literary production his letter may pass muster, but as a conclusive argument, certainly not.—l am, etc., “WIDOW.’-’