Correspondence.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 December 1915, Page 3

Correspondence.

10a:- opinions are their own; ii-j responsibility of editorial o;:os makes stiuicieut ballaet for the uditor'a ehoukieia/J

OPEN LETIEK TO MR. BLENI HORN (.MAYOR.; •Sir, —1 trust with the advent > your-seli to the mayoral chuir thi the policy or dictum oi your prod cessor -m office may be-reversed: i.e "That ratepayers "shall not recei\ ough labor." By roveJsnig tlii ordt ot thing -Levin will no tonly fall in-j line with older ami more experience preference, even ii qualified, for Ooi ough tabor." Jjy reversing this ordc o*' things Levin will not only fall int municipalities throughout .New Zeai and. but help the urgent need o. <the day (whicli affects uoroughs a well us individuals) "Economy wit Efficiency"), leaving taken an mtti est in Ih<vkjrough since its inception it is .only natural that l si'oiuci :e ii~*l lull i ed practical ecou>-y «• ii ellicieu »• iu its oveiycui-y ro u.ic i street :r.a ntcnauce, eto. The pl'c; has simply lapsed Uiat ;is a buisnts proposition the" outlay lor labor luv lie- par equivalent. The ra-tepayovi arc paying dearly for their ~ whistle At the outset a mistake or blunder wa: perpetrated, no qualified person wa , advertised for <w working ioreman oi overseer, andi the result has been yii outlay on street maintenance excessive and by results mostly experimental. 1 could live comfortably oil the years that a borough has Dee« ir. vogue on the .money., that has been wasted on material and in payment of labourers' good wages; good in this way, that :the labour interests' has been centred more in the monthly cheque than the interests of the borough. A great deal ot 'time seems spent in killing {ime and filling pipes, and the conclusion is that the- staff is over-manned. Places where there is more doing than our one main industry (the dairy factory) do with less, and employ casual labour as needed. Permanent- labourers and casuals are drawn from the ratepayer class if available. 1 have no bias against the policy that was inaugurated ait the outset, but it is from my personal view, weighed 'in the balances and found Avanting. Results determine that the borough cannot run as a relief works tor men who beat any record by their rendering of the Levin borough maintenance stroke. I would suggest for the benefit of ratepayers generally, and the esteem that must accrue during your {erm of office that applications be made for a qualified man as working overseer from beyond the district (there is none within, apparently*) who can taive levels, practical in concrete and asphalting, and it possible an abstainer; also applications ironi ratepayers to fill positions in tbe maintenance department,. Give the present pick and shovel engineers and the carters a week's notice, commencing Christmas and New lear in "ringing out the old and ringing in tne new,'- and) we shall probably see a change from the uinue(Jiodical, slovauly style of things the maintenance department has drifted into, and ever present. What- may be said is, What are the present drawcis ol cheques u> do if they have to vacate? Well, do 3is 1 have had to do since 1 have been here; go beyond Levin and take your pick ot what is available, andi there have your merits tested as to getting a move on, and having two homes to keep up on an average or £i a week as I have had to for mouths.—lours f . UO-OPEEATIVB^^^^^^^V] WEEKLY rH^^^^^Hl Old potatoes : are now . the market.X, New ing in largevquanities from district. Pollard is rather scarce, anuj iabout same price as last week". Bran I is a little easier in price, anti appears I ii lie in . good supply. Oats have again weakened sliglitly. >~ Wheat if. considerably firmer In pric'o than last. week on account ot the embargo on export having been removed'. aro in good demand at last week's- rate The selling price of porkers still keep good. Spring cabbage is in short supply, and "prices are higher. Choice cauliflowers are arriving in larger

quantities, and .prices are lower. Lettuce ie in short supply, and highor rates are ruling. Parsnips are in short supply, and meet keen competition. Carrots and wHite Turnips are ia short supply, and fetch Hist prices. Spring onions' and also br>pt«x)t. meet with ready snlo. Rhubarb is coining in in small lots,-and priews are Higher. Strawberries are coming to hand more freely, r and prices are easier. Cherries and gooseberries aro arriving in large consignments, and meet: with ready sale. Hutt tomat-ops, also Nelson tomatoes, aro- arrivinp; u?f» - o •freely',.and high rates are' ruling. f