CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2607, 15 September 1909, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all times, but it must be distinctly understood that this journal is in nb way associated with the opinions of its correspondents. All letters must be legibly written and inscribed on one aide of the paper only, otherwise they will not be published. *An asterisk at the foot of a letter indicates that sofne portion has been excised.J

CO-OPERATIVE BAKERY

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I notice in the local papers ( a paragraph saying that the Gisborne Co-Operative Bakery Coy. lias purchased Mr. Erskine’s business on favorable terms. May I pertinently ask by whose authority was the local .put in and also if by someone connected with tlie Company, for instance, the Secretary or Chairman of Directors? I would further ask by what right the directors of the Company purchased the business. Twelve months ago I was induced to take up shares in the company on the understanding I was to get cheap bread. I paid my calls and am some pounds out of pocket. I have taken my bread from the company ever since its inception. I pay cash (3s 9d) for twelve coupons. The company has the use of any 3s 9d for a week, of the monev for the shares for twelve months, and what do I get out of it? Just when I expected to get a dividend to pay interest on my money I am. coolly informed that instead of paying a dividend the directors, without calling a public meeting of the shareholders, have taken upon themselves to buy another large bakery business. This is profitable, no doubt, to the secretary and those who are making a good thing out of the transaction. May I ask where the shareholders come in? Surely this is not to be allowed by those who were induced to start a company on cooperative lines that a few interested individuals who are evidently making money should run the company into such a large outlay without taking the shareholders into their confidence. In mv opinion this makes our shares valueless and also any concessions we expected by joining the company are simply nil. —I am, etc. ___ ~ “A SHAREHOLDER.

SANITARY 'PANS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —You will see from the following correspondence that I am not against the new system, but against the waste; and in order that it should press as lightly as possible on ratepayers, I suggested that all good pans in use should be taken to the depot, thoroughly cleaned tarred and sold as rubbish bins, at a loss cost than is at present charged, the owners receiving say 2s 6d each. Trusting the Council will yet see their wav to carry out this idea, I am, etc., . F. STAFFORD.

The Mayor and Councillors. Gentlemen, —I notice in the local press that householders are required to furnish themselves with new nightsoil pans, and 'before providing these I should like to know why. About three years ago your Council decided to institute the sealed-pan system. Some hundreds of pans were brought down from Auckland, owners of property setting aside the old oblong pans and purchasing the new ones. The local plumbers also imported the pans from Auckland in order to supply the public requirements. Eventually your Council allowed local made pans to take the place of the imported ones. Now we are again asked to discard the pans in use and buy new ones. When, 1 would like to ask, is this thing going to end? I have always believed the pans in use were capable of being used as sealed pans, if they had the requisite attachment for fastening the lid to each, whereas I find on examination the pans lately made have no such provision. Gentlemen, it is high time your Council had servants who would take such interest in their duties as would protect the ratepayers’ pockets from this shameful waste. It is a moderate < estimate to say that quite 1250 of the 1600 pans required are good and in perfect order. This, at 5s 6d, means that the ratepayers will be put 7 to the unnecessary cost of over £340 simply because the officer or officers responsible for the proper carry-ing-out of the system decided upon have not done their duty. In conclusion I would ask your Council to devise some way to lighten the cost of this new instalment in some measure. 1 am, etc., FRANCIg g TA FFORD.

REPLY. Sir, —I am directed by the Council to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the Bth inst, and in reply regarding the sanitary pans it is imperative that the standard pan be installed, but if your present pans are in good order it is quite open tor you to retain them for rubbish bins, or what other use you desire. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, R. D. B. ROBJNSON, Town Clerk.

JUNIOR FOOTBALL

[To The Efiiron.] Sir,—-I think it very unfair the way the Rugby Union have placed the junior teams to play next Saturday, seeing that they were all level before they started the last round. City and Y.M.C.A. played.a drawn game, which put a point each on to their scores. United beat Makauri, which put them ahead of either of the other teams. Yet they are asked to play City next Saturday, which is, to my mind, very unfair. Why not let City and Y.M.C.A. play, and then let United play the winners?. By giving Y.M.C.A. the bye it will give them every chance of winning the junior banner, and they must be the runners-up. The team to have the bye was United, as they are one point ahead of either of the other teams. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, etc., J. NEWTON, Junr.