A BUILDER'S COMPLAINT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 548, 3 February 1868, Page 2

A BUILDER'S COMPLAINT.

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bag Times. Sir, — “ Strange, passing strange ” I fancy would he the exclamation of a stranger upon seeing advertisements that occasionally appear in your paper —some lime after the same have been published in the Audi.tad journals—inviting lenders from (he builders of this Province, —thus ignoring, as it were, the whole of Otrr local talent, Low, in case an impression may get abroad that this Produce is destitute of sufficient building shill, I wish to shxtt • fur the informalit n of the public, that in this community there are men who are capable of designing and erecting any description of building, equal to any men in New Zealand. Why, therefore, persons should go elsewhere I cannot imagine ; unless, indeed, if he that the building frderndy of Auckland require our aid. If so, we can hardly blame them ; though charity, I think, should begin at home. Perhaps, Mr Editor, the idea has got abroad that the qrresent class of buildings in this Province shows the extent of unr building skill; but lain happy to say that such is not Ihe case ; and I should very much like to see some one give the iuildeif of Macke's Bay an opportunity of displaying their skill, either in designingpr erecting a superior class of buildings, so as to convince folk here and at a distance (hat we really do not require architects or builders from distant places to design or creel our . buildings for us. — lan, S/~c., A BUILDER.

r Gur correspondent should remember that no restrictions uu the freedom of trade are wise. Parfirs desirous of new designs naturally wish a wide field from which to select that most suitable to their t,uie — h-see the necessity of extended adeertismj Other thimjs being equal, local residents have an rdrnntage over others in such a eompetion, from the simple far! rf their being local residents; and there most he some reason, is should suppose. Jar ■ e result vhsa the designs of strangers arc chosen. Xut infrequently this may he a pecuniary one, and wc presume that our correspondent himself, when in want of worlmrn, would procure them from another Province if he could get letter workmen or cheaper labor hy so doing. There is, however, we admif, sometimes n ground for complaint—as when notices which do not appear in the local journals are sc it to the papers of other provinces. Some people are enchanted hy distance, and ref use allhonor or credit to any of their oxen neighbours. — Ed. H.B.T.]