CORRESPONDENCE.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 57, 28 February 1902, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE, EDITOR. Sir: Now that the hop season has commenced we shall have outs de buyers on the trail in. order to snap up the crop at the lowest possible figure. I hope growers will be careful who they deal with. We have been working for the middle man long enough and it is about time we had a meeting to see if we cannot get one of our number to take samples to the leading brewers in the Colony and get a direct offer. I don’t believe in dealing with firms who ruin the market by selling the yield before the settlers grow the hops, which means that we have to take what they offer and they benefit by the rise that gnay take place- I have heard of hops sold in Nelson by one firm to another firm and the money held back, and when the returns were asked for the grower was told they were not sold .yet and that the bales had been sent to Australia. That sort of dealing isn't honest and we ought to do the business ourselves or find honest merchants who will do it for us. j I am etc.,

Grower,

Sir : Allow me, through your valuable paper, to pass a few remarks on the letter from “Progress.” lie seems to think our very obliging wharfinger has an enviable position, and would like to be in his shoes himself. How he would enjoy walking in the soft sand foi- two miles to light the beacons, and get about a penny half-penny for his trouble ! In rain or shine Mr Moffatt has to do his duty, but of c >urse he can afford a nice warm macintosh, as he is so well remunerated. Most likely “Progress” would wear a sack with tar smeared on, as, of course, he would take the position at a smaller salary (as he thinks the salary too 1. is l *)* and would go in for cheapness in attire. “Progress” also seems to have forgotten that business has increased at the Motueka Wharf during the last few years, and that there is now enough work there for two or three men. I am, etc., More Progress! \ e. Sir :—I see by your paper that the Borough Council are going to sell the galvanised iron, timber, and, tools used by Mr Edwards and his gang of men for making the dams at Glovers breach. Now, Sir, I hope it will be a fair and square sale, and that a plum will not be given to one man. A lot of us subscribed for the work and if there is any bargains going give us a show along with the fat purse men.

I am etc., Ratepayer and Subsc-iber.

Sir : I hope the fruitgrowers will attend in strength at the meeting on Saturday night to discuss the direct steam service business, especially as the Borough Council' of Motueka seem to want to throw the thing over, or what is worse suggest a service that will be useless for all practical uses. To my mind we have enough produce for Wellington to keep a boat going twice a w?eek for say three months of the You know sir, I don’t agree Vith Mr Everett who says if we ask

T>r too much we shall get nothing. If we ask for to > little and a contract is fixed up for five years we shall be in a pretty mess especially as it has been proved the export of fruit is getting bigger every seas >n. I also think the Motueka people should go to the Government and ask them to keep the Post and Telegraph office open till '‘eight o’clock every night and that the Riwaka Telephone office should follow suit. There are many times when a shipper would like to send a telegram to his agents, but if he does not do so

before five o’clock he can’t it ' till next r orning at nine o’clock. The Farmer's’ Union could take this idea and see what could be done. I am etc , Shipper. Riwaka Feb 26th.