A PATHETIC WAIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9579, 27 August 1909, Page 5

A PATHETIC WAIL.

(To the Editor).

Sir,—That was a pathetic wail from a pathetic farmer, which appeared in your issue of to day underthe heading "Ingenious Pleading." If he had signed his name, however, it would have been ever so much more effective, and would have given one an opportunity to look over the share list of the Wellington Meat Companies and ascertain the extent of his interest. His argument that the country naturally feeds the town fits in lovely in favour of establishing the works right here in Masterton or within a mils or two of it. We want to make Masterton a town of such importance that it will attract merchants sufficiently to establish warehouses here and gives us a metropolitan centre in the Wairarapa to the benefit of the whole district. Mr Buchanan's arguments against the establishment of the works in the Wairarapa were naturally tocussed from the pocket aspect and were as lame and unconvincing 'as it was possible to frame them. When "Farmer," of Opaki, is getting from the Farmers' Meat Company the full value for his mutton, skins, etc., he will doubtless look back with a degree of humility on the time when he wrote such balderdash as that which appeared in your issue of yesterday. I hope he will cut it out and paste it in his hat for future reference. As a set-off against "Farmer's" letter, however, it was quite refreshing to read your editorial touching upon the question. If the business men of Masterton are alive to their own interests they will see that what you suggest is given immediate effect to. The business community must be as dead as Julius Caesar if it misses the opportunity that is undoubtedly offering now of securing an important and permanent industry adjacent to the town. Moreover, the establishment of such works in or near, Masterton would have the effect of making this probably the largest stock market in the Dominion, as it would be the centre for the whole of the Wairarapa, Forty-mile Bush and lower end of Hawke's Bay. Mastertonians should be up and doing.—l am, etc., another farmer. Masterton, August 25th. r