MR. BENNETT AND PATRIOTISM.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 263, 6 August 1915, Page 4

MR. BENNETT AND PATRIOTISM.

(To th e Editor)

Sir, —As mine Happens to be one of the oldest es/taJxisued businesses in

Tiu'iiupe the cap set-ais to lit me which ivir Bennett refers to in his lettti, as

wine was one ol the two or tnree Of cue oldest establisued business \.uicn Kept upeii on the ; atceruoon of Declaration Buy. Now what are the lacts

of the cuoG? It is very unfortunate, for the business people cf Tain ape, ana ttUj public genaaliy, that one halt does not know what the other half is going to do, with regard to closing on a holiday. On Tuesday I was under th e impression that all day on day on Wednesday would be observed as a holiday, and told several of my customers to that effect I did not get out of bed until S o'clock, and was considerably surprised on looking out, to find that other business people were Open, and then promptly opened myself, and on inquiry from.- these-' who are every whit as patriotic as Mr Bennett, was told that it was only their intention to close for an hour cf tWo as it was sale, day. However I managed to close about 2.30 and did not open again. Now, who' and, what hs responsible for this unsatisfactory state of things? Among the busi-. ness people of our town some few years' ago, an effort was made to form an association of Taihape business men which had for its object, the fixing of holidays, the hours of closing, etc., in fact it would have been to the busi ness people of Taihape what .the Cham ber of Commerce' is to the district, but owing to the attitude taken up by on e business man, well known to Mr. Bonne.tt, the Association collapsed, henc e we have the present unsatisf'tory state cf things. In conclusion, if Mr Bennett is consistent in his criticism, and has the; courage of his ; convictions, he should have singled out the Auctioneers' Association for special favour, for not postponing their sale, and not drop his bombs promiscuously, like som e German Zejpplln. I am, etc.,

W. J. H. McCORMICK