CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1676, 17 February 1917, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[To the Editor.]

Sir. —Kindly permit me, through your columns, now that John A, Aitcheson has side-tracked and avoided accepting even C. Hunt's challenge, and also because 1 have reason to believe that I am one of those he is hitting at, but cannot accuse personally, only by inuendo. Therefore I hold the rigid to hit back ,but above the belt. So 1 will ask him a few questions on the industrial held, where he does, and I did till recently, get my living. Hoping he will answer the following questions calmly, not in the “well manner” that prompted his , challenges, to which he signed himself as “engineer to the N.Z. Shipping Company, Foxton”: —

Have you any tickets that would qualify you to lake charge of any plant requiring an engineer who possesses such ticket ? Why does an engineer command a wage double yours, than a man who only has “credentials” such as you have? Why does another plant in Foxton do better work with the same fibre —i.e., which puts it info smaller bands without having to ran it up and down four or five times —and two men pull on the band and one other use a steel bar. when it should have gone into 10ft. Din. bands instead of lift. 3in. bands? When you were asked for more power from the engine why did you * say, “Fut your shoulder under it," meaning the press table, thereby matching a man against the plant of, which you are first and only “engineer" ? What particular line of engineering - did you follow, not including stove nmking.’ Did you qualify in, and how long did you serve in that particular line of engineering.’ if you were in charge of the plant, was it right that I should get the "bullet" because the engine could give a loving squeeze, instead of high pressure ? Why did you follow the gentle occupation of farm labourer, when there is, and was, such a, dearth of duly (pmlilted engineers? Why did the Company send a man who holds the highest diplomas in tin* engineering world, as also did Andersens, Ltd., to superintend the lifting of the engine and pumps a! the shed when you say you have credentials which make you an engineer .’ In brief, why are you following such a lowly job as you have, and being an all-round man, with such credentials as you say you have? Say, are they the ones you showed me? If they arc I understand why. So please just answer the questions as 1 have several more awaiting, but space bids me cease. Hoping you will not get away from the subjects I have mentioned, but answer straight out. —Yours etc., E. G. MARTIN, Union Street. Late N.Z. Shipping Coy. [A letter from E. Ingram will appear in next issue,—Ed.lL]

gineer.’