ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. RAILWAY FREIGHTS ON FISH. TO THE EDITOR.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8166, 22 April 1895, Page 1

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. RAILWAY FREIGHTS ON FISH. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Some weeks ago I sent you a copy of correspondence that hud passod between myself and tho Minister in charge of Now Zealand Railways on this subject. I have since then received a second, and, as far as that Department is concerned, what must bo taken as a final reply, ntat« ing that "Tho Minister cannot see " his way to re-consider his previous decision not to allow small packages of one-half cwt and one cwt of fresh fish to be carried for (id and Is irrespective of distance tho samo as for fresh fruit. I have no arguments to add to thoso already put beforo the authorities. What I said was, to myself and also all tho peoplo in Now Zealand, <juito unanswerable. During the past few day.s Oimaru so% coasts lnvo been visited by immense shoals of sprats or sardines, tons upon tons past reckoning, which comparatively speaking have been allowed to go to wasto on account of tho short-sighted policy of tho railway headquarters' officials. la it not a very serious mattor that, with so many unoin-* ployed necessitous peoplo all over tho country, red-tape and officialdom should stand in tho way of the cheap and wholesome supply of food providentially oilered ? I notico a meeting of the unomployul in your town last night, when petitions wero suggested to tho Minister of Linds for some road making, etc. I contend that moro lasting benefits would be conferred on the community by "che.ip tran.sit," tho moans for which is Lirgely now in our hands, though neglected, than by any other bchomo for helping tho count iy. I may, at no very distant date, a?k the Oamaru people to give me a good audience on this and other matters of vital interest. "A hungry man is an angry man, ' and so also is a hungry community. If a G!ovotninent's first duty is not to proservo tho lives of tho peoplo, and surely food is tho first absolute necessity to that end, I want to know what its duty is. With all their professions 1 cannot believe quite so much in their sincerity as I would like.— 1 am, etc. | JONEI'II HEATLKY. Belloknowcs, Dunedin, April 10, 1095.

"Where is Mrs Slum?" "Sho lms gone to tho symphony i ohearsal . " " Haa her husband gono with hor?" "Wo; ho is in tho woodshed at u Chopin rocitftl."