Correspondence.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2156, 16 March 1870, Page 3

Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE FBESS. Sic, —I am engaged in a rather extensive business, occupying large premises in the town, and paying a large amount of rates. I hare always so conducted it that I have nothing to fear from fair open competition— but I do think the public authorities should be the last to enter into rivalry with the trade, as I can prove they are doing. They have granted permission to Messrs Langdown and Co., for a considerable time past, to occupy a portion of the Railway station on suffranee, and without rent, rates, or taxes to pay, where they have been, and still are, carrying on a considerable business in the same line as my self. On one occasaion lately a party came to mc on business, but refused my terras, stating that he could get it done much cheaper at Messrs Langdown and Co.'c. Had I the same advantages, and no rates op taxes to pay, I could have done it on the same terms. It ie well known in the trade that timber is frequently taken there to be sawn, and brought back into the town —this occurred only so lately as yesterday. It never was intended surely that the Railway station should be used for any such purpose, and I consider it most unjust that it should be, I have represented the matter more than once to the Government, without any redress, and I now lay the matter before the public generally. I want no assistance from the Superintendent and the Council, but I do wish for their non-infcerferance in the public trades carried on in the city. I remain, lc, James Booth.