"WHAT'S WRONG WITH MASTERTON."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 4

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH MASTERTON."

[To The Editor.]

! Sit,—Your'leader'of Saturday's isJ sue in response to the wretchedly pes- " simistic wail of your local contemporary anent the query as to "What has gone wrong with Masterton?" is to be , commended. If matters were twice as >,badas they attempt to represent 1 itehem, the poKcy "stinking fish" can only be ascribed to men of doubtful business acumen. The merest muff must realise the incalculable mischief and damaging effect upon our credit that such an effusion must lead ...., to, and makes it more illogical and difficult to understand, emanating , from a supposedly reputable source. ' It seems to me about due for v the benefit of our reputation and future progress and prosperity that the pes-'; ; simists resolved to show a better front, ' and unite in assisting to instil a little ' neadfui confidence into the hearts','-of those who feel depressed. There is nothing wrong with the town, and given a chance things would soon wear a brighter aspecS. The liquor question : ,,. is dragged into all matters of public *\ coricern, and it is a deplorable thing when one realises- that instead of mankind governing liquor, .with,,, many liquor is,goyersng/mankind;! regard to the, enumerated list given of those who have been compelled to put up their shutters. The.«> are subject to a very big discount when analyzed. * Take the auctioneers as an example. We start with Blade and Co., who were succeeded by McQueen and Co., who in turn where succeeded by Finnegam' and Bushell, the y by ' ; Johnson*, and Co.; WeU.jtherWias noth- ■ .■< . ing.-wrong;, with „ this. >3nlpitt and/ Yalden .went out; heeauseHhey fouiid there were too many in the trade. ». Bjockle.^^suffered;the;saijriei'misfortune; ~• :So with, result 1 was, ihevit-. : > able. Hunter and Soilsold to Anstiee, .Lyttle Bros.""are still in the .running, so also are Cole's drapery, and Lett,' grocer; and for the rest an unsympathetic universal slump found existing weak spots. And who are. the, other four or six tradesmen who ars /yet to announce, their X retirement?'Mere conjecture.^ 1 case Mastert6n is and has been over-shopped for sometime. In conclusion; I would asfeithe .public to compare our town with' Wellington, Palmerston <N6rth, and'othei- , Cemi'es, i where-they have,as many 'liquor, as the 'law will permit them to jam in, and judge matters with an unbiased mind—l am, etc.,. . ONE IN BUSINESS;