REPLY TO "WORKING MAN."

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 2, 5 July 1892, Page 2

REPLY TO "WORKING MAN."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sib. — I must say a few words respecting that disgraceful letter which appeared in Saturday's issue of your paper, purporting to come from a " working man." Man ! No man would write such a slanderous letter, being devoid of truth as the writer is of manliness. Why did he wait more than a fortnight after my letter was in print before he made what he calls a reply ? I suppose he says that the arguments which I brought forward were irrefutable, and that Mr Bruce's prospects of election were not over bright, and in his ignorance he thought he would help on the cause by slandering me. But such a course will have the opposite effect. I can say that I have never in all of my dealings, either in buying or selling, taken advantage of any man. As for grinding down the farmers, I am sure there is not a farmer in the district who could accuse me of tbat ; but, on the other hand, many of them could testify to my rendering them all the assistance within my power when they were in difficulties. As to keeping up the price of floor, I have lowered the price 30s per ton since harvest, and my price is now lower than that of any other mill in the district, the proof of which can be had by calling on any business man in town. If we bad to employ labour instead of doing thi* work ourselves, I could'nt possibly sell at such a low price without losing money. I gave 4s per bushel for my wheat, while the millers down South were only giving 3s 5d to 3s 6d per bushel, so where does the grinding down come in 1 I think I have written quite enough to show that no reliance whatever can be placed in any of the statements contained in that letter. Had the writer told the truth he would not have been ashamed to sign his name. I am, &c, T. R. Chamberlain.