CORRESPONDENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 44, 27 January 1916, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE CARNIVAL QUESTION.

[To The Editor Stratford Pobt.l

Sir,—Stratford is, I think, well able to manage its own affairs, and, like Hawera, its people have not yet given any indication' of desire to join New Plymouth’s “Battle of the Bullion.” The sound of “bullion” has too much New Plymouth sea air “bluff” to make Stratford simply sit down quietly and carry out the orders of Commanding Officer Lints. That the writer of the notes in to-day's issue of the Taranaki News hardly knows Stratford is clear, otherwise he would have waited until Stratford had given its, whole-hearted support to a scheme which has an element of Americanised sympathy for a good object, when its result pays the promoters well! Stratford is cautious as you and others know, Mr Editor, and while It has done much as a town and district to assist our boys at the front, it is well able to row its own boat, and not ask New Plymouth to supply the skipper. Hoping you will be good enough to insert this in your paper, and asking that Stratford will do its best to promote every effort for good, which it is quite capable of doing without outside interference, enclosing my card. I am, sir, yours truly. “INDEPENDENT.” Stratford, 27th January, 1916. (The paper referred to by our correspondent is certainly taking rather much for granted in its desire to ‘speed-up” New Plymouth’s “Battle of the Bullion” scheme, and by so doing, is not quite helping in the right direction. So far as Stratford is concerned, nothing definite has been done, hut a public meeting is to be held tomorrow evening (which His Worship the Mayor specially requests may be well attended) so that the matter may he fully and fairly discussed. If the meeting decides to take up the scheme in conjunction with New Plymouth, •well and good, but if not, New Plymouth can still proceed quite on its own account.—Ed. “Stratford Post.”) ELTHAM’S POSITION. A special message received from Eltham this morning asserts that Eltham’s attitude in connection with the “Battle of the Bullion” proposals is misrepresented by the New Plymouth morning paper. The position in Eltham really is that the Patriotic Committee recognise that a good Hi any appeals have been made in the district, and that they do not feel justified in committing the town to New Plymouth’s “Battle of the Bullion” scheme, and, therefore, they thought the best course would he to hold a public meeting which Mr Lints could address, if he liked, and if he induced the Town Committee to take it up, well and good.