"WHOSE BABY?"

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 141, 16 June 1936, Page 9

"WHOSE BABY?"

OYSTER MAIL IDEA. CANTERBURY'S DENIAL " ABSURD SUGGESTION." A certain measure of indignation, coupled with a great deal of amusement, is felt by members of tlie Canterbury Chamber of Commerce following a statement recently published that the chamber was responsible for a suggestion that oysters should be carried .by air mail (says the "Cliristchurch StarSun"). "We never made any such suggestion," said a member. "It came before lis as a suggestion made in casual conversation with one of our members by the Postmaster-General. We thought so little of the idea that we did not bother to discuss it seriously and 110 motion was passed regarding it. Whoseever baby it is, it certainly is not ours." Further investigation suggested that the idea emanated from Auckland fishmongers, and from tliem was passed on to the Postmaster-General, but they, too. deny any responsibility. Officers of the chamber are convinced that they could never have been so foolish as to discuss such an absurd proposal seriously. "Why," they say, "a. parcel of 281b weight costs 10/ by air mail. A sack of oysters weighs from 1601b t£> 1801b. Who would pay to carry vasv loads of oyster shell, which is of no use whatever save as a variation ii\ diet for poultry?" In another quarter it was suggested that the idea might be to carry the oysters opened. Several shillings' worth of oysters cou?d be carried in a sealed pint bottle, it was said. By this means the carriage of oysters by air could be profitable. The oysters could be landed in Auckland in excellent condition after a speedy flight from the Bluff. Whether this idea is practicable may be a matter of opinion, but the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is not going to be saddled with responsibility for it.