DECRYING MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10221, 24 April 1911, Page 5

DECRYING MASTERTON.

[To The Editor.l Sir.— I feel that the best thanks of the Masterton community are due to you for the splendid manner in which you have shown how utterly without foundation is all this crying and pessimistic croakings about Masterton. Tour issue of Saturday morning shows a further example of what some of the residents of the town are prepared to do to belittle the town where they make their living. It is only by your prompt action -in publishing these extracts that residents of Masterton can learn that they have those within their midst who are anxious to do all in their power to harm the district and thus check the steady progress that has undoubtedly, despite No-license and all the tales that these scribes circulate about it, set in. Regarding the cry that so many go to Carterton now to do their shopping, I think I am in a fair position to estimate what Masterton loses on that account. I have just completed seven years' residence in Masterton, and since the beginning, of February have taken over a business in Carte rEon. 1 assure you, sir, that I have not seen one single Mastertonian who has come to Carterton to- do business that they used to do in Masterton, except those who make direct for the hotels, presumably to procure what they canJiot get without a lot of trouble in their own town, and. I have spolen to storekeepers about the increase of~ business that they expected- when Masterton went "dry," and not one could say that they were doing any more business on that account. There are very few Carterton business men who do not complain about the dull times, and there are many who wish to try No-license as a solution of the trouble. Your attitude, sir, in exposing the "twaddle," which you so aptly term the stuff, is to be commended, and I wish at the same time to compliment you on the great improvement the paper has made during the past few months, and I feel sure that if you continue on your present policy, Masterton will live through it, and your paper will extend its usefulness, and everyone who has the interests of their town at heart will thank you.— I am, etc., ALBERT J. PARTQN. Carterton, April 22, 1911.