LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1946, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A. R.

MILLS.

SHANNON PUBLIC MEETING Sir, — May I through your columns express my extreme disapproval of the term used by your oorre&pondent in his report of the public meeting, held in Shannon on Monday evening last. The remarks 1 refer to are those in which your esteemed correspondent refers to the meeting as "reminiscent to Snake Gully." Now, Sir, I object strongly to that reference, especially as there is not any similarity between the two. I am an ardent follower of the activities of that fictitious family and township created from tne run oi Steel Rudd. The leading characters in Steel Rudd's stories are Dad and Dave. Dad is the leading light of Snake Gully, and is the Da&dy of the city fathers. He, with his colleagues are noted for their enterprise and their dogmatic manner of their efforts to make Snake Gully the leading town in the State. I feel sure that if there was an acute shortage of houses in Snake Gully and there were eight houses lying empty in their suburb of Conshinui, the city fathers of Snake • Gully would not wait till their neighbouring town of Sacks on Bags had claimed them. No, Dad would say, "Look you jokers. We want those houses and by cripes we will get them." They would be in Snake Gulley before you could cook a jumbuck stew. If Snake Gulley had a public park it would be the pride of the district, and one would see the resident Doctor play in there with his kiddies on a Sunday afternoon. Another point, Sir, is that the characters of Snake Gully are noted for their great growths of face fungi. I think your correspondent has made a "bloomer" in referring to our orderly conducted meeting and those that attended as remmding him of Snake Gully, and I sincerely hope we will read letters of disapproval from some of this town's greater lights. Yours etc., "DAVE." Shannon, April 10. Sir, — In your issue of Tuesd&y ■under the heading "War Memorial Hall," there appeared an article purporting to cover a public meeting convened by the Mayor to discuss the question of a suitable memorial to the glorious personnel of the war. Sir, as one who attended the meeting, may I through your columns voice a strong protest at the tone of the above article. Bristling with inaccuracies and mis-state-ments as it does, I submit to you, Sir, that the article is deflnitely neither a true nor accurate description of the proceedings. Without dealing in detail with the inaccuracies contained therein, the report puts forward a strong suggestion that the meeting was unruly and arousing of "Snake Gully Tactics." I regard this as a direct affront to th'ose present and a serious reflection against cur worthy Mayor, who, in my opinion, as chairman, conducted and controlled the meeting with dignity and tact. True, the meeting had its brighter moments, but at "no time could it be described as unruly or out of order. If the article was compiled by your reporter, which I presume to be the case, then I suggest to you that he, in giving his personal views of the meeting, which he obviously has done rather than a true and impartial report, has transgressed one of the cardinal rights of journalism. The article deflnitely conveys to the outside public the impression that the erection of a suitable war memorial was dealt with in. an irresponsible and burlesque spirit, which is quite incorrect dnd contrary to the general tone of the meeting. In conclusion, may I assure you that those present were actuated by and deeply conscious of their responsibilities in discussing so worthy an object. Yours etc.,

Shannon, April 10.