CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1931, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

ROSS EXPRESS TRAIN. (To the Editor). Sir, —T was delighted to read in Saturday’s “Guardian” that at last the Ross people are waking up and asking for a direct train service „ between Christchurch and Ross. Grandmother on pension day always said “God Bless Dick Seddon”, and I will guarantee that every woman in Harihan and South Westland will say when we get the direct service to Ross “God bless the man or men for this service.” 1 had not seen my mother in Hastings since the earthquake, so when I found Mrs was going to Wellington L went with her so that she could help with the two children. Coming back from Hastings 1 had no help and you can imagine, a woman on the train all day down to Wellington, and on the steamer all night. At Christchurch .station I found that my'brother could only get seats in a Grcymouth carriage tile previous day, so that on the arrival of the train at Greymoutli where it was blowing a gale and raining, I was ordered out of the carriage. No nice porter came along to help me with mv baggage and the two chi Idem, hut I have- seen the day.''When I got. out on the Grey platform there was such a. scramble, to get into the Hokitika carriages. The children were crying. I had to put down iny luggage on the wet platform and at last when we did get into the carriages there were no seats available. There was one gentleman who had manners enough to get up and give me his seat, for which 1 was very grateful. On arrival in Hokitika, we had to get out again and wait in the wet and cold. You know what the weather has been like during the last month. At. last we saw the welcome lights of Ross where peace and comfort waited lor a body worn out with the struggle of the last 36 hours. The Railway Department advertise . “Travel in comfort by rail” aiid Mr Massey used to give the advice ‘‘Keep the cradles full”, but what encouragement do they give us. Let every woman in South Westland fight for at least one carriage to he attached to the van at Christchurch ] ’for Ross and vice versa. I am etc-., NIL DESI’KRAXDUM, South Westland, July 2!).

HONEY CONTROL BOARD. (To the Editor). Sir,—-Enclosed you will find a copy of a letter which I have posted to the new Government nominee on they Honey Control Board. I am quite sure that a number of the beekeepers in Canterbury would he very pleased to hear that the Control Board was likely to he abolished. The sooner this comes to pass the better for all beekeepers concerned, as the price of honey has gradually dropped ever since the ’management of the H.P.A. has dominated the industry in New Zealand. Parliament voted .C9OOO to advertise honey on the Home market a couple of years ago, hut we hear very little about how the money was spent? IT we had a free market a>>-l cooln ship from grade store it would lessen unemployment and encourage those engaged in the industry.—l ain, etc., JOHN MURDOCH, Ross, 20-7-31. (Enclosure.) Mr J. R. Rutland. Government Representative, Honey Control Board, Auckland. Dear Sir,—On behalf of a number of beekeepers in the town and district I am writing to you to' see which sidy you ai'e on. The H.R.A. have two representatives on the board, and I think in is time that the hundreds of Irekeepers who are led up with the management of the hoard should lev" representation My own private opinion is that the policy of the hoard is absolutely hopeless. The Control Board should have been entire v separate from the domination of the H.P.A. Our best market for the export of honey is in the United Kingdom, and that, is where our honey should he controlled. One man under the High Commissioner in London should control supplies ami ship djrect to British ports and the Continent. I think it is wrong consigning all New Zealand honey to one firm in Tooley Street, London. . . . The Control Board me not exporting any honey esrain this year, and this is the second time since 1024, when control came into force, so ivliv should we not be able to export on our own account, simply because tbo H.P.A. have allowed honey to accumulate in London, holding it for the price fixed, instead of allowing the law ol supply and demand ruling the world. The time is now overdue for a vote by all registered beekeepers for or against the continuation of honey control. .There were quite a number ol beekeepers last time who failed to vote for various causes, and if we are given another opportunity, not only will these vote, hut a number who voted- for control will, they say. this time vote against control. Owing to your training as a- banker I wou'd suggest that you study the balance-sheets of the H.P.A. for the last five years and note the comments of- the auditors, read up the Honey Control Act of 1924, giving the Board only limited control, and tell me if you do not think that they have taken absolute control. The highest price offered today by the H.P.A. is 3kl per lb., which is forcing a number to give up their bees, as this price will not pay the cost- of production. Much more could he said about the necessity for a change of management or the abolition of the Honey Control Board. — Yours trulv, JOHN MURDOCH,