LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 513, 12 March 1920, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FIAT LUX. Sir, —During the past week I have been considerably exasperated over a very small matter. I purchased, at one of the local grocers, a packet of New Zealand-made vestas. This packet contained one dozen boxes, for which lid. So far, I have faile. 1 a light. I have used three i>a%s, and they seem of a uniform quality? They are supposed to be non-poisonous (This quality I have not experimented with.) but the maker should have added "not dangerous." and that they are absolutely free from any possibility of fire. After expending- three boxes and exhausting all my available expletives, both respectable and unprintable, I proceeded to obtain a new supply. This time I expended the small sum of twopence, and procured what is known as a tray. Here again I was doomed to disappointment. True, I did obtain a light, but upon examining my purchase I that about two lavers of matches had been taken out of the box, and to make un for the deficiency the bottom. which was usually of very thin card, was now made of some substance ouite an eighth of an inch -thick. This bottom was lixed about • half wav un.the trav, and then any other piece of thin card was folded and laid under the few remaining matches, and turned over so as to make the tray (it tightly in the slide. Now. with regard to the first matches, which are not matches at all, correctly speaking, one has n toievance against the retailer for Misrepresentation, but against the

.Other you have uon<\ but must sul>> . it it to be exploited or go withctW ItvLSvidontlv the manufacturers of the ySfray matches have decreased the number of vestas in the travs so as to allow them to be sold at the pre-, war price of one pennv: but somewhere abnormal profits are beine nlaced on. and a long-suffering public is being exploited. It is nearly time that some steps were taken bv the public to enquire into the charges made, and the quality of the poods that are being forced noon them. E.E.W.