CR. RICHMOND’S REPEY TO MR GARDES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1064, 15 February 1913, Page 2

CR. RICHMOND’S REPEY TO MR GARDES.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —With your permission I will reply to Mr Gardes’ letter in your last issue. He seems very indignant that I should dare to speak about him at the Council table, and pray why not? Mr _ Gardes is a public servant, and I am one of the trustees for the borough, and as such, will dare to , speak about any inan where I consider it in the interest of the people who elected me to that position, to do so, Let me inform Mr Gardes that I never used the words, “engaged all his men from outside sources,” but the words used were, “I believed he engaged most of his men from outside.” However, I think that is not Mr Gardes’sore point, but the notice of motion is, and I contend that is right. Does Mr Gardes ever stop to consider that the magnificent salary ot a year that he receives from the borough funds and, I, believe, a horse or horse feed is contributed to by every elector proportionately. These in reality are his employers, and does he think it right that he should compete with his employers, many of whom are far worse ofi than himself,. This was what I was aiming at in my notice of motion, not the quantity of men he employed. Mr Gardes can thank himself for that part by the remarks he made about himself, for it was a well known rumour about Foxton that he was . going ,to Palmerston to get men, as the Foxton men would not work lor the small rate he was offering. lam pleased to hear that he had eventually engaged fourteen out of the twenty in Foxtou. But I can assure Mr Gardes that I did not run my head into a mare’s nest, but very nearly ran it into something worsen which was Mr Gardes’ : duty to see was not left lying about for people to run into. In conclus* ion, I have no grudge against him or any other public servant personally, but as a public man I will speak out what I consider is in the interests of ratepayers, and assure Mr Gardes that there is nothing of . the “toady” or “silver tail” about your humble servant, Cr, H. W. Richmond.

Sir. May I through the medium of the Heraijd draw attention to the shocking state of a half starved pony kept in a bare small paddock at the rear of the Manawatu Hotel, near the erection of a new house/ It has a gash 6in long by rin wide on one of its hind legs, tied up with what Was a bit of rag, now as stiff as ajboard with the discharge from the sore. I have not seen anything so bad for a long time. The poor, beast should be shot and so end its misery. I understand it haS been there for quite a month., Respectfully yours, one interested in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. —I am, etc.,

i.e.A. [The pony in reference to which our correspondent makes, thq above complaint has since been destroyed.— Ed. H.]