CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2275, 21 August 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all times, but it must bo distinctly understood that tins journal is in 110 way associated witli tbo opinions of it-s correspondents.]

CO-OI’ERATIVE DAJvEItV. [To thu Editor.] Sir, —As tlicro appears to be some misapprehension 'as -regards the position of the two proposed bakeries 1 feel it incumbent, as one ol t-lio promoters of the original Co-Operative Socioty promoted by the civil service hero, "to place before the public a few facts in connection therewith. Some short time back I, along with others, felt that tho time was opportune to form a genuine co-operative bakery. -Lists woro drawn up for signatliro, and a largo number ol shares taken up, and an advertisement inserted in your paper beaded “Gisborne Co-Operative Bakery. In that advertisement it was stated that a list was lying at Mr C>G. Picsso’s oflico for signature. Mr; Piesse signe<l himself for ten shares and olfered to get subscribers, and at the same time was shown tho names of those who had already signed. List week a prospectus was, and is still, published in your paper showing that an arrangement had been entered into between Mr Hniloy, bakor of Gisborno, and Mr Pie6so, for the latter to float his (Mr Hailey’s) business into a limited liability company, Mr Piesse to receive tho remuneration for liis services:— FTty guineas for Mr Piesso’s services, se-venty-five pounds for preliminary expenses, and 0 per cent on .£SOOO (5000 shares at £1) or £250 if that number of sharos are allotted or in all £377 lOs. Now, Sir, as the promoters do not aspire to bo wealthy men, it is not reasonable to suppose that we could offer a professional broker these terms as wo liayo n<> other object in view other than to obtain for all bread at a -reasonable price,—we have no business we wish to get rid of—and naturally, Mr Piesse being a company promoter, drops us humble individuals for higher game. I don’t blame him if the public swallow this, to niysolf, indigestible prospectus, but if I know the people here 1 think they will say £377 10s brokers fees can bo better utilised by putting it into a business of their own, more especially when to that lias to be added a large sum for the purchase of Mr. Hailey’s business, and that 5 per cent has to be paid for any unpaid purchase money duo to Air Hailey.

It has been stated by interested parties that our co-operative concern was dead, naturally, to help the Limited Liability organisation. Well, Sir, I have occupied an office alongside Air Piesse for some time, and 1 will ask him this question: Did 1 supply him with this information so as to enable him to register liis, or Air Halley’s Company, under the title we have been advertising, viz., “Gisborne Co-Operative Bakery” (not forgetting the Limited). Of course, Air Piesse is expected to bo a pretty shrewd man, and it is unreasonable. to suppose that he would let or any one interested in the original movement, know wliat was being done, but, Sir, when one of Air Piesse’s proposed directors informs me —I will give Air Piesse the gentleman’s name if he likes —that ho certainly was under the impression that it was the Co-operative Society being promoted by the Civil service he was lending his name to, there may bo many others who aro umlor the' same impression and, Air Editor, we ask your assistance in clearing this matter up. Our “concern,” as it has boon termed, is certainly not dead, as evidence our meeting on Monday evening last, nor have we “missed the bus” as 0110 of the persons interested in the Limited Company have stated. If we did, Sir, well wo have embarked on a very high speed motor and wo will overtake tho bus that we expect to go a long way in a long time. I think the public can now see tho way the cat jumps and pussey will bo caught instead of the mouse (us), as we have ■rattled on a largo number of shares since our mooting on Monday last. —I am, etc., CECIL LEWIS.

NO-LICENSE. [To the Editoh.] Sir, —I had almost thought that my Latin friend “Quid Nunc” had closed our controversy on-the question, of nolicense in Invercargill, but evidently during his week of silence ho had been storing up fresh ammunition. He iias rather an unbusinesslike way of quoting figures. He says the number of “drunks handled in 1907-8 was 86.” Supposing this to be correct it would work out at the rate of about four and a half a month—a record Gisborne can beat in one day. 'When considering the success or failure of no-license in Invercargill one should always keep well in mind the fact that the brewers, to keep up with their old reputation for cunning and to bring no-licenso into discredit, erected beer depots just outside the no-licenso boundaries; that the central court being in Invercargill, consequently cases committed in licensed areas are tried in that court, just as Ormond and Te Karaka cases arc tried in Gisborne; and again, that Invercargill is not isolated like our own little Gisborne—trains from licenso districts daily run into the former town. I do net deny that no one is ever found drunk in Invercargill-—that is too much to expect during the experimental years of no-licenso when license had for very many years undisputed sway It stands to reason some time must elapse before the slime left in its track by the “reptile” license can be reasonably expected to disappear and the lemecly of no-licenso to work more effectively. Let it bo remembered’ also, that as the law now stands the sales of liquor only is forbidden and not 1 ho consumption of it—no-license, you see, not prohibition or coercion. To judge fairly the working of no-license it should be compared with the working of license. Now surely “Quid Nunc” if his mind is open, cannot but acknowledge that no-license, in Invercargill or any other district in the dominion is preferable to license as exists in our midst. From January to March last, a period of three mouths, there were fifteen convictions for drunkenness in Invercargill with a population o[ 11,582, as compared with 122 cases in Gisborne with a population of 5661, during the same period. These figures are n stubborn fact. “Quid Nunc” when directing his telescope towards Invercargill does it extra well, but when the object is just under his own nose lie applies the telescope to his blind eye. That is just how Mr. Harnett manipulates his made-in-England telescope. And for Mr. Harnett, pooh! "Who is lie His admirer “Quid Nunc” says of him “ail unbiassed mind, whose evidence is invaluable.” Mr. Harnett, oil the contrary, is all bias, at least on

the no-liconso question. Ho ought to have boon looking after his 111011. instead of keeping an eye on Invercargill. I do not wish to rovivo Air. Harnett’s opinions for they aro as dead ns Julius Caesar. “Quid Nunc” went off the point and indulged in personalities whon ho relerrod to a paid agitator of tho no-lieenso party as receiving nine shillings a day and boor galore. I don’t boliovo a word of bis slanderous story. “Quid Nunc” at tho conclusion of his letter waxed amorous and poetic, and dolefully lamented in the following lines tile loss of liis lover:—“Where is my lover! Oil, wlioro is he goner”’ Poor Q.N. 1 1 can assure him that if be would only take the trouble to go round to tbo Police Court next Monday morning he would most certainly find his longlost lover there, but as “Quid Nunc” will countenance the existence ol the liquor trailic so long will his lover do tho “disappearing trick.”—l am etc. “WHATNOAV.” NO-LICENSE.

[To the E'mtoh.] iSir,—\ r our corn: pondont “Quid Nunc” seems to p'aco his confidence in what one of tho British footballers said about Invercargill, which was one of the places wlioro they could not get their thirst satisfied. 1 would liko to point out to your correspondent that one of the principal reasons for tho number of defeats this team of footballers sustained was that they were too fond of midnight carousals—or looking 011 tiro beer when it was frothy. When leaving New Zealand’s shores for Australia, wliat took place? They went aboard the steamer nearly all top-heavy, and one of them fell overboard, when some half-dozen jumped in to save him and there was very nearly a drowning match. I am not a prohibitionist, but when I see anyone writing such rot about No-License not being a success in Invercargill, I cannot help having a dig at them. —I am, etc., “MODERATE.”