CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1931, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

AN EXPLANATION. ! (To the Editor.) ...Siiy—Yxni ..were '.good .enough; to, publisu iu vour issue ±ast evening a paragraph excerpt of a discussion at the urey Borough Council on Thursday night on the matter of stock entered for the last Grey Sale the purport ot which would make it appear that bhis firm had not kept its advertised engagement and thus in the words of w, Robertson was “bluffing” the butchers, Most of your readers no doubt will give this outburst by Cr, Robert" son the consideration it deserves but some few 'may need convincing. The facts are as follows :—• 1. This firm advertised 15 head of cattle (two trucks) tor last Grey Sale (not 25 head as stated by Cr. Robertson). 2. It ordered trucks for above as may be \erified from the local Stationmaster.

3. At 7.30 a.m. last Sunday morning the National Mortgage Coy’s Auctioneer telephoned our principal at his residence stating that the entries advertised were in excess of Butchers' known requirements, they being fully supplied and asking our firm to cut down its entry by one truck as the Grey firms were cutting theirs down. To this request a tacit consent was given dependent on our. client agreeing. 4. On referring the matter to our client per telephone, he expressed unwillingness to make two trips to Grey with a truck (8 head) each time when the expense of same was not warranted and he decided not to send his entry. (Over this action we had no control).

5. At 9 a.m. next (Monday) morning our office telephoned the National Mortgage Coy. stating the decision and requesting that their Auctioneer he good enough to announce to the assembled butchers the position. In addition information was telephoned the Grey Abattoir and to a Grey butcher.

It will thus be seen that this firm lias not been guilty of “bluffing.” In its desire to meet the request of the Grey firms it lias received an uncalled for castigation which seems specially unfair in view of the Council’s anxiety all along to avoid slumping at these yards. Ninety per cent, of the butchers operating in Greymouth are clients of this firm and up to time ot writing we have not had a single complaint from any one of them. Nor have we learned of a beef shortage. In view of the above facts and seeing that other stock firms had 30 head of cattle advertised and only eight were yarded, Cr. Robertson might be coirsistent and ask an explanation as to their action. "Why single out Je?!ne3 and Co.? He will remember that on previous occasions we have withheld altogether from sales to permit the local firms n clear run with their entries.

Thanking you to give this explanation similar prominence to the excerpt referred to. We are etc..

IV. JFFFRTEB AND CO Hokitika, December 19. 1931.