CORRESPONDENCE.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 22, 25 October 1901, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To The Editor. Sir : The Nelson Fruitgrowers' Association has been formed, and I suppose in a short time those who gave in their names will be asked to sign the Articles of Association. I think there will be others who, like myself, will hesitate before signing away their only birthright, that is to offer their goods for sale by auction through a firm that have only just started in the fruit line, and who are, from what I can learn, novices at the business, [and will have to buy their experience. I do hope the delegates were not canvassed by the firms who made a bid for the agency, or were influenced the fact that the members of the successful firm first saw' daylight in Sleepy Hollow. It will be a sorry object lesson to the members if those who sell through the other firms in Wellington manage to get better prices for their consignments. What about co-operation then? I have nothing to say about the appointment of Mr Simpson, of Nelson, because I believe the Committee has got a good man. Fruit Grower. Pangatotara. October 24. Sir : Mr W. J. Moffatt has given a summary of th.e correspondence that has passed between us, or rather has hashed it up, throwing in a few- extra remarks (not relative to the present discussion) by way of giving it a flavor. He states that " having no case, I abuse the other side and finally throws \ a stink pert" (language characteristic of Mr Moffat). I deny using any any I abuse whatever. The remarks I made I were, under the circumstances, appropriate, and well merited. He also says, "it would be dificult to find matter for criticism regarding my public actions as a publ-V man, unless it may be to give me kudos for the businesslike acumen I have displayed in the allocation of certain Government grants." That statement does not tally with the tenor of Mr Moffatt's letters, but it proves his inconsistency. and if the allocation of certain Government grants is all that troubles him, I will soon relieve him. I may state that neither I, or any member of the Board have anything to do with allocating Government grants ; they are all allocated before authority is given to expend them, and all grants that have been entrusted to the Riwaka Road Board for <>r onditure during my time on the LJjard, which is now over- twenty- years, have been expended where allocated, according to an agreement which accompanies each authority, and if Moffat says anything to the contrary he is a perverter of the truth. That Mr Moffatt has been wearing a mask he fully admits, but if he did not wish to hide his identity from me, who else could he wish to hide his identity from ? Masks, as a rule, are worn to be better able to take an advantage of your adversary, and certainly Mr Moffatt is not an exceptron to the rule ; finding himself in an awkward position, he has made some excuses (rather lame ones) to justify his actions in the matter. He says he only used " a limited anonymity" and again " gauzy visor." He has, however, announced the removal of his mask, in order that I may use my rapier to better advantage. I may say that rapier and mask are ascessories to each other, and as I have never been mean enough to use the latter, will leave the the former with Mr Moffatt, who has for the nonce doffed his mask, which to him of late has been a necessary appendage," and I have no doubt that when opportunity offers, he will again don the one to use the other. Daniel Riwaka, October 22, 1901.