THE LATE TROOPER STREET.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1916, Page 7

THE LATE TROOPER STREET.

To the Edito".

Sir,—Through your valuable paper I wish to publicly tender my most grateful thanks to the numerous farmers of the Okato, Motorua, Waitara, lnglewood and Smart Koad districts, for their past loyal support to my dear husband, the latr; Trooper Charles Edward Street, who acted as buyer for the firm of Dimock and Co., and who has given his life for the Empire's cau?e and for the establishment of justice, liberty and righteousness, the same as thousands of our bravo and noble men are dying for daily. I wish to state that the one sole reason ray husband was able to respond to the country's call was because the manager of the firm lie represented promised him to allow my son' Frank Taunton, a lad of seventeen, to keep his step-father's billet for two or three years, or until Jiis return. This promise was made to my husband jn the presence of Mr. Jack Burke, of Eltham, my son Frank, and myself. It was agreed I should do any correspondence, advertise buying dates, and order trucks, and my son was to buy for the firm. Directly my husband sailed with the 11th Mounted, the manager wrote to say I should receive half-pay for a time, although the salary was agreed to be £3 a week all the year round. I wrote and asked him to keep his promise, as I had payments to meet, and was dependent on the pay. TIW next month I received the terrible shock to say my dear husband had died, and five weeks after I received a lettor from the manager of Dimocks, to say the firm had amalgamated, and my son was pu l . off from July last, and Mr. Burke nto take !'is place. I wrote and begged the firm to reconsider their decision and mvi'pt me as canvasser and my son as buyer, and the farmers of the districts kin*; l 1 y pot up a .hurried petition, signed by 2'?o or more cf my late husband's suppliers to tho saii'e efi'ect. The firm completely ignored my letter to them and the petition, but made use of my son's name to advertise until I withdrew it yesterday. I also sent a wire, reply paid, asking if my son Frank was to buy, as dates were advertised for next week and his name. The reply I received to day is to any, "Other arrangements have been made. - ' I have given the father of my four infant children in a just eause, and I feel it keenly to know a wealthy firm liss broken its promise to the orphan children of a soldier of the Kim? I again thank the farmers for their efforts and for patronising my son, as they promised my husband they would do.—l am, etc.,

MINNIE STREET, Smart Road, September 14.