CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2579, 12 May 1923, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To The Editor.) Sir, —With reference to the letter from “Rugby,” appearing in your issue of the 10th inst., re erecting a dressing shed for players. I quite agree with him that it is time for tbe Borough Council to wake up and du something to encourage clean, healthy sport. At the same time, should not the Borough Council give all kinds of sport fair treatment as far as is in their power and not tie itself to one form of sport and do their bidding as a matter of course. I am given to understand that the Borough Council granted the Soccer Club the right to form a playingground on Victoria Park, which place is au ideal spot, yet on tbe other band the Borough Council takes that right away, in not allowing the Soccer Club to remove a patch of concrete that lies in the centre of the ground, which makes the ground useless for Soccer —although I see that quite a lot of ilie cycle track is missing. The Borough Council also would not see its way clear to allow the Soccer Club a playing right on Easton Park as they held tbe Fugbyites bad first claim to that. Park, notwithstanding the fact that tbe Fugby Club already bad two playing grounds on the racecourse. Surely, Mr Editor, you will agree with me that the time has come that the Borough Council should deal fairly with all sports bodies in the way of locating tbe grounds and their disposal like all other Borough Councils. Thanking you, Mr Editor, for the space taken up. —Yours faithfully, SOCCER SUPPORTER.

Sir, —There is an old saying from the dim and distant past which still holds good, to the effect that those who handle pitch are apt to get defiled. Tn reply to E. G. Martin, I will take, tbe risk. Re cutting wood with a circular saw, this method is much easier to-day. Tbe reason T had no motor ear in the old days was that there were none in existence. Fe spoon feeding. I have many “wet. nurses” and “spoon feeders.” I have one whose age is f>2 years. It would he a pleasure for her to feed E. G. Martin, but it would not be with a spoon but a long-handled shovel. She would cure E. G. Martin of tbe roaring habit. Fe shooting mosquitoes with a muzzle-loading musket. I might inform your correspondent that we never shot them in the day time, we always shot them in the evening by the light of a glow worm. But one night the worm was not actingvery well and a biped was shot by mistake. Tt was reported to the authorities and they said “Oh bury him and say no more about it!” Tn re signing my name to correspondence. If E. G. Martin can prove that “Old Identity” wrote a letter T will donate £5 to the local school funds if lie will pay £1 if lie cannot prove it. Fe chivalry of 50 years ago. T make no boast when 1 sav (lie chivalry of 50 years ago will si and the test of comparison with present day chivalry. I was on the gold fields in 1803 and mixed with a cosmopolitan crowd of over a thousand men of all nationalities. The code of honour and chivalry was such that if one borrowed from another in those days, failure to pay back meant a quick resting place in n “digger’s hole.” The foundation of the progress and prosperity enjoyed to-day was laid by men and women of the past who endured hardships and toiled from daylight till dark in a spirit of self-reliance which your correspondent would do well to imitate. —Yours etc.,

OLD IDENTITY. (“Of the dim and distant past.”)

Sir, —In reply to Mr G. C. Coley. I did not criticise those citizens who found money to obtain a boat for the Foxton trade, but gave them credit for being public-spirited in doing so, as anyone with intelligence wonld understand. But while not criticising' the other shareholders, who are all decent, well-meaning people, Mr Coley has given me an opening to criticise him. If the s.s. Kennedy is now such an improved boat, and is still so unsuitable, what must she have been like when Air Coley and others bought her? And why did Mr Coley, knowing so much about shipping, allow himself and others to buy such an unsuitable boat? And why, as the largest ratepayer in Foxton and a man of so much influence and knowledge does he allow his company to charge fifty per cent, more freight on Foxton goods as against goods for Palmerston ? I, on the other hand, have been trying to clear the port of the bad name it has got amongst shippers; and also lift it to the position it should occupy as a port, but this is a difficult "job when one finds not only the s.s. Kennedy stuck in the mud, but prominent men as well. In regard to the insinuation Mr Coley makes about shareholders in a company 1 formed being' left lamenting. 1 am greatly indebted to Mr Coley for mentioning this and I thank him for doing so. I here has been cowardly insinuations made against me in regard to this, which has done me a great (leal of harm, and I have endeavoured in every way to get at the bottom of same and to have the matter investigated but so far without results and now he has given me an opportunity of doing so. I did form a company for the purpose of getting suitable steamers for Foxton; and when the prospectus was being drawn up, the solicitors advised me that there should be an agreement for me to be manager for a certain number of years. This 1 refused, as I deemed it more honest not to tie the share-

holders’ hands. Then when the company was formed my father and I although we held more than half the shares, did not stand for the directorate, so that no one could say it was a family concern and this showed our honesty of purpose. Three months after the company was formed and just as the capital was coming in from calls, I was asked to resign, and not having any agreement, nor having any say on the directorate I was compelled to do so, but at the same time received from the directors a reference as to my personal honesty, integrity- and ability. I therefore ceased to have any influence or power over the capital of* the company, and because the money was not put into a boat, it was a matter I was unable to control. I explained this to Mr Coley in the Herald office, before he wrote his letter, but as be wants the matter made public, lie can have it. But naturally, there wore many tilings that occurred that would need a great deal of space to explain and would be of little interest to the public. But if there is anything in Mr Coley’s insinuation tlien I am not a fit person to hold a sent on the Borough Council. If, on the other hand, he makes such an insinuation without being able to hack it up, I think decent people will consider he is not a fit person to represent them. Tf, therefore, Mr Coley believes his insinuations, T challenge him to allow an independent committee to he set up and if such committee finds that I have not acted absolutely honestly with this company, I am to resign my seat, if on the other hand they clear me of any dishonest motive or action, then Mr Coley is to resign. Resignations to he in the hands of the Mayor before tbe committee is set up. Mr Coley will find that I can not only play tennis, but can also play the game as well. Thanking von. —Yours etc. R. McMURRAY.