REPLY TO "TRUTH."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 379, 3 May 1910, Page 2

REPLY TO "TRUTH."

To the Editor. Sir. —I, like my friend "Truth," am averse to rushing into print, but as I have lately seen a short paragraph in your loeal columns, also a letter which closely concerns me, I think that I am justified in saying a word in my own defence. In the first place, let me assure the public that I had no connection, sis you are aware, Mr. Editor, with tlie paragraph appearing in your paper signed "A Fact." Many are of opinion that I was the author, but I was not, and am sorry that it ever appeared, a 9 I would be the last one to try to publicly gloat over a beaten man. With regard to "Truth" saying that the farmer intended to settle his account before but the store was closed—well, the store is open from seven in the morning until nine at night, and if anyone called before seven or after nine at night he would certainly find the storekeeper absent. Perhaps it was a mere coincidence that the farmer settled his account just after the school election and gave orders for the storekeeper not to call again. Perhaps it was also a coincidence that his eldest son called a few days after and followed in his father's footsteps. The storekeeper's chief- sin, and the only thing that he had interfered with locally, was to allow himself to be dominated on ,the school committee anj be' elected and then appointed chairman. However, wo may have another election shortly, as I believe the last was informal. and then let the farmer come forward again, and if he wins, well the storekeeper will not go about over a beating crviing lu<e a spoiled child whose mother hns taken away his susrar pi urn. The storekeeper has four children attending the school and the farmer none. Who has the bigger ri<rht to be on the committee? Let the householders decide. —1 am, etc., THE STOREKEEPER. .