THE MUTTON QUESTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 194, 20 August 1867, Page 2

THE MUTTON QUESTION.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening*- Mail. " Cobbler, stick to thy last." Sir —As a tradesman, and an old trades, man in this city, I wish to say a few words on " The Mutton Question," for I have not read anything for some time past which shows so plainly that the " cobbler should stick to his last *" as the letter in your Saturday's paper, signed "S. .A. Cusack, late Surgeon to Nelson Hospital," whereiu, to shield himself, this gentleman joins iv throwing stones at other persons. He admits that, having asked the more delicate patients if their rations were of a satisfactory kind, he received but few complaints, yet he immediately inveighs against butchers aud bakers. Why does Dr Cusack charge the Inspector and Deputy-Inspector of Scab with admitting "scabby sheep from the Wairau" iuto the proviuce ? Does he really mean that those gentlemen, though drawing., their salaries and fees, utterly neglect their duties? How else c, nwe receive'• scabby sheep from the Wairau??' Not content with an attack upon the character of public officers, he charges the butchers with "preferring to buy the scabby sheep so admitted at 4d a pound aud retailing at Bd, to paying 6d to Mr Jeukins, or Mr Pierson, or the farmers about the town for wholesome meat.' r Is the "Late Surgeon to the Nelson Hospital" aware of the fact that Mr Jenkins, Mr Pierson, and the farmers about the town couid not supply the town for oue week with mutton? Aud even if they could, how would that affect the bakers? Yours, etc., A Tradesman. August 19, 1867.