THE MEAT QUESTION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11569, 28 April 1903, Page 6

THE MEAT QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TRESS. Sir, —I beCieve your special article on the above subject would have been fairer had you compared the year 1902 with 1903. Your leader no one doubts was actuated by a desire to benefit the public at large, but other correspondence aims at deriding as deserving a body of men as we have in the city. To be a* butcher is by no means dainty, nor have. I heard of one retiring with a fortune. It iv'a hard, strenuous and keen fight for existence, and having all kinds of people to satisfy—not by any mear.s a pleasing life. People are becoming too dainty. They must have their amusements, dainty of course, have dainty clothes-, live iv dainty houses, but alas! they object to the butcher because he is not dainty. He looks to his horses and is hard "at work at 6 a.m., takes his orders round in all weathers, with very few thanks and a great many giumbles, and now sneered at, although as a rule an honest, very hard-working ar.d obliging man. I wonder if "Dainty" is the person who stalks in the shop at closing time, and asks in a dainty voice, How much a. pound chops? I'll take one pound. Oh, butcher, cut off the fat. and do take out the bone. That will do. Oh, give me a. bit of. suet, and please send it at once. You can't send it? The man has been working since 6 a.m. Oh 1 "Dainty's" letter is most amusing, and a!_i> linaccura'e. Perhap< he wrote to amuse, but it hurts Inrel-woiking men to be sneered at. Butchers have not time to take lessons in cau'sthenio:. nor yet in statuary, but I'll warrant if "Daintyship" goes to any of the many decent shops in Christchurch and order.* what is wanted and pays for it. it can be. obtained, but if decent" cuts are required in shops where poor quality is kept, disappointment may be expected. Since King Richard was at Home England has wakened up, and they have no time for cutting competitions.— Yours, etc., PLAIN.