Cheap Coal.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7913, 20 September 1904, Page 8

Cheap Coal.

(To the Editor). Sir,—l think Mr McMurray,' in his eagerness to attack me,xhas shown his weakness; he has let the public know where the shoe pinches. He appears to be. afraid of the Council taking up my proposal re a coal depot; but I have \ urged it for the benefit of the public. I fail to see why public money should be spent and then private companies should receive the benefit of the profits instead of the consumer. Mr McMurray says I am not a subscriber to the Stakdaed. "Well, Mr. Editor, I am pleased to say that i am a regular subscriber to your journal. I have read McMurray "and Co.'s advertisement re coal several times lately but I have not yet found the price stated. Probably they are afraid to insert the price. No doubt I must give them credit for breaking the price of coal lately, but it has taken tbem a long time to awake and see that small.profits and a quick turnover are better for their company, while the consumer is reaping a benefit at the same time.- Mr McMurray says to carry my argument to a logical issue the Borough Council would soon be running drapery, grocery, butchery, and bakery establishments! "Well, I should like to see it done. It would be running the whole show for the benefit of the " long-suffering and downtrodden citizens," that he describes them. Mr McMurray need not be afraid of his job if the Council open up a coal depot, because it takes a long time to carry these things to perfection." However, he need not be afraid of "Progress." going into the business, although I feel sure I could carry the business through with success if I engaged in it, but I am not for individualism ; I believe in co-operations, the consumers to have the benefit instead of the shareholders. No doubt this does not meet with Mr McMurray's views.—l am, etc., ; Peogkess.