CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 471, 14 July 1871, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We are not responsible for our Correspondents' opinions.] •;- t ' - *'~~ \ CUT , _**a HAWKEkS'.„iIC^NOi!S. Clk To the Editor of the EvHmara Stab. Sib, —I have seen of late several letters in our local papers respecting the Hawker* Licence ; now, sir, as I am a resident here some considerable -timej and also a lover of fairplay, allow me to express my Bentimente on the subject. In the first place a Borough Council was badly needed here, so there is no doubt that as we have one now, consisting of such .wise and intelligent men, ; in the course^ of -fifty;; or; sixty fyeare, wheA-.fchey get into proper -wofking 'order, they jwill do an immense, good to the town. Still I must confess that I am sorry to see that Borne of our. wise councilmen have taken such a step as to put a£4 licence on hawkers. Mr. Staines, I should say, speaks from experience, whea he says that, they do the shopkeepers a deal of harm. TBsrt geritleihati surely Au'sti' forget that he was once a hawker, and therefore be, above all, should know that there is not such a deal of profit attached to hawking marine stores, ships' anchors, &c, or even a basket of fruit. I would sank.. how < ni&ny I po<Ms.T»»wif«W are "there in town who have "£t» worth of stock to procure a living with, and support their wives and families P How are such people to payia;£4etax? s L"W"hat JigtWibeoeflid of them, if they are compelled to give up 'their basket"? Shal 1. they wait until suoh a ■time .as they can get a job to ; break; stones? Or i shall'- they '"train tbemselve's ttt v4jecor&e good strong powerful firemen ? and wait until Mr. Asher advertises for them at 2s 6d for each fire? I say No, but£l?4 yearh sufficient to pay; thus giving them a chance to get an honest crust; for, in my opinion, ■ they (hawkers), as a body, are more industrious than half the shopkeepers and Superintendents, for they buy and sell on their own judgment, and 'that's more, I think, than' Superintendent Asher does ; for I have listened repeated y to him giving orders both at practices and fires, and I think that any one of his staff can teach- him/ I say that if we are to have a Council, let it consist of men like Tonks and other*,'..who-''don't study for their own gains, but do the best to benefit the public. I propose that the public make a subscription, and buy a "good" strohg'"bflg, and present it to the Mayor, for him to bag up all the stains and ashes from the Council, and throw it into the sea; .then probably.we may be 'oh a right '''totaling; Thanking'jrou for giving me space to express my sentiments.— I am, &c., *'":' J ' ■ ,-. t - . ■;■■)( ■ - -A-UOUS.