CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 4 October 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

n DRIVERS' UNION v. EMPLOYERS. To the Editor. Sir,—A reply to the letter appearing in this morning's News has been sent to - Mr. Jillett appointing Monday next for a conference of employers' delegates and delegates from the Drivers' Union to discuss their proposals. The side issues mentioned by your correspondent do not call for any answer, as (to quote from Mr. Jillett) "the public will know then whose fault it is and judge for themselves." —I am, etc., J. WHITAKER, Secretary Employers' Association. THE PRICE OF MEAT.

To tho Editor. Sir,—A local in your issue of Wednesday justifies to the satisfaction of the butchers of New Plymouth the present high price ruling for meat, but I venture to say it will not be "swallowed" by the public so easily as the butchers would evidently wish. The butchers are stated to have represented "that they had daily been expecting the beef market would become easier, but the freez-ing-works operations and Auckland demand for Tarauaki fat stock was keeping cattle in short supply." Very good, and I'll accept the butchers' word for that; but I -would like you to point out to the meat-eaters of New Plymouth that they are getting very little of that "high-priced Taranaki fat stock" to eat, although they have to pay on the basis —or a little higher—of that set by the primest stock purchased for the freez-ing-works and outside consumption. I have been looking through the municipal abattoir returns published in the local papers every month, and I have learned something that I think will be news to most of your readers. During August there were slaughtered for local consumption 171 COWS and only 27 bullocks. These cows—old culls, [ have no doubt, most of them —are retailed by the butchers as primest beef, and, worse than that, are retailed at a price based on the high market value of the best bullocks. And the poor butcher has been losing money by holding to the late retail rates of meat. I don't think so; do you?—l am, etc., GUMMY.

A LETTER OF THANKS. [Advertisement.] To the Editor. Sir,—Will you kindly allow me space in which to thank, on behalf of my committee, all those who by their assistance and co-operation rendered the recent entertainment (Kirmess and Living Whist) such an unqualified success. In the first place our thanks are due to those parents who allowed their children to attend the frequent practices held right through the past six weeks, and for their great trouble in bringing the little performers night after night to the Theatre in weather that would have made non-attendance' excusable. We can hardly express our full appreciation of the magnificent dresses worn, but we trust that the training received will be some small recompense. To the performers we owe our warmest thanks for having so perfectly mastered the many intricate movements set them in Living Whist and the various national dances, giving so much pleasure to our audiences. The pleasure was enhanced by the music supplied by Mr. Perry and his orchestra, to whose members we are grateful; whilst too much thanks can hardly be bestowed upon the ladies who supplied music for the practices and for various items at tlje performance itself. Without Mr. Fred Stevens and his limelight the dancing would liayc been robbed of much of its beautiful effect, and we tender him our heartfelt thanks, as well as the ushers and doorkeepers who so willingly assisted. Last, but by no means least, permit me to express our thanks to the ladies' committee who secured the performers, acted as chaperones, and undertook the trying ordeal of dressing the children and controlling them during the performance. We trust that each and every one of the many who assisted will accept this letter as a personal acknowledgment and personal thanks for their work. As it is the intention of my committee to put the performance on again at no distant date—probably on the occasion of opening the ground—the committee request that all interested will kindly keep their dresses and again give us their valuable aid in raising funds. Any money thus raised will be used in carrying out a work which will be a source of pride and pleasure to every inhabitant of New Plymouth.—l am, etc., A. L. HUMPHRIES, Chairman Recreation Sports Ground Committee,