CORRESPONDENCE

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4465, 14 June 1930, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

(To the Editor). Sir, —-Where ignorance is bliss ’tis folly to be wise. To a person not fully informed upon a par tic-u----iar subjeet it is not only bad taste but-ignorant folly to jump at conclusions and rush into print his opinions which will not stand substantiation. Whether or not the Council was justified in refusing what appeared to be a most reasonable offer is best known to the councillors themselves. The ratepayers have not been fully enlightened. To the layman, basing his conclusions only 'upon.what lias happearcd in print it would appear that a good chance has been lost, but if he ventured to definitely state tiffs the Town Clerk may make a masterly reply which would make a critic look very small. The main point of this letter, sir, is, however, to enlighten your correspondent “Patron,” upon two points, the first being that, a representative body of business men did not wait, upon His Worship the Mayor with reference to “talkies,” and secondly that most commodities of life can be bought as cheaply in Foxton as elsewhere. Rather than exhort the businessmen to wake up I would exhort the people of Foxton to wake up and patronise whenever possible the local shops. It is so very simple to seize upon a few isolated cases of value comparisons to the disadvantage of the local shops, but it is an undeniable fact, that people from other towns have made similar comparisons to the advantage of Foxton. In these days of particularly keen competition it is palpably absurd to suggest that on a general average of retail goods at 18/- the prices obtaining here are 5/- more than ruling elsewhere. Any business attempting such profit-making would be adopting a suicidal policy which must culminate *in bankruptcy in double quick time. There are many and varied reasons why some local people shop outside of Foxton and the main reason is lack of loyalty and community spirit—not price. If Foxton business people were not selling their wares as cheap—if not cheaper than elsewhere, they would he courting outside opposition, but although many prospective traders have come to investigate the possibilities of opening here none have done so because they could not have hoped to capture business unless they sold cheaper, which they were hopelsesly unable to do. Personally, I would suggest that the Council move cautiously and whatever the outcome, "whether municipal or other “talkies” providing- we get them —there will bo no need for the people of Foxton to travel distances for their amusement and “Patron” and businessmen will occupy the same row of 2/6 seats and applaud together the tit hits of the screen—especially the local “Ads.” Yours, etc.,

LOYAL LOCAL. (To the Editor). Sir, —May I be permitted to reply to your correspondent, “Patron.” His letter seems so full of eijiticism of our councillors and business people that one is inclined to think “Patron” either has an axe to grind or is a hard bitten pessimist. It would be advisable for “Patron” to consider things more seriously in future before putting his views into print. Personally, I hope the ratepayers will sanction a loan to have the “talkie” pictures installed. Does “Patron” know the difference in the quality of those lwo “jumpers’’ he speaks about? I doubt it. And the knee gum hoots at 13/6 a pair in Wellington? Has “Patron” ever heard of factory throw-outs, that is, hoots damaged in the process of manufacture or otherwise? ICould he get a guarantee with the Wellington gum boots, “fair wear or a free pair.” Tha t is' the guarantee I got a t 18/6 a pair in Foxton. “Patron” says, “sting them once, and they go elsewhere.” Yes, “Patron,” and they get stung elsewhere too. Some people like “Patron,” go looking for it. I would strongly advise “Patron” to leave Foxton’s affairs to men better informed than himself. Yours, etc., k , - ■ FLAXTE.