A PROTEST.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9670, 8 March 1897, Page 3

A PROTEST.

V TO TH» BDITOR OF TH« PRBBB. Sm,—Your Sumner correspondent in crying oat for a letter-carrier makes the gratuitous statement that other places younger and less important. New Brighton, for instance, have a daily delivery, and why should not we ? If he has any causes ot complaint in the matter let him blame the postal authorities. The last census returns show that the population of JSiew Brighton is about double that of Sumner, which is certainly a factor in favour of the former. Why does not Sumner give us a lead sometimes, instead of whining and servilely following us? Take the "gala," for instance. We showed the way in that, and now Sumner " wakes up." If it were not for the exceptional liberality of the Tramway Company in subsidising its efforts we should never near of Sumner sports and friends. The Harbour Board has spent large sums in improving Sumner, and is always being asked for more, while we have to paddle our own canoe independent of such adventitious aids. But we have no feelings of jealousy; we leave that to the unsuccessful rivals. New B.ighton has gone ahead from the start, and will be in it at the finish. I regret that your correspondent has given expression to so unworthy a sneer. Had he not had the bad taste to do so this letter would never have been written. When Sumner learns the lesson of self-reliance and abandons the continued cry of " Help, help," its growth will be less stunted and more houest.— Yours, &a. t t

Beiqhtokian.

March 6th, 1897.