SCHOOL CAPS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 210, 19 August 1927, Page 5

SCHOOL CAPS.

(To the Editor). Sir, —I notice in your issue last night that you have endeavoured to reply to the letter written by ‘‘New Zealander.” It is a fact that the caps the headmaster of the Hastings High School instructed the boys not to wear are New Zealand made caps. The main objection by outfitters is that the headmaster informed the business people nine months ago that the caps were to be got from a firm in England.

Some outfitters knowing these caps could lie made equally as well in New Zealand, refrained from buying from the Old Country. Is it a fact, that a consignment of these caps from England had to be sent to a local manufacturer to be altered as they would not fit the boys ?

Why did you suppress correspondence on this subject? Was this correspondence in support of local manufacture or in support of the remarks of ‘‘New Zealander?” Are you aware that not only can these caps be manufactured in New Zealand but in our own province a large factory manufactures caps of any shape which are sold right throughout the Dominion? The board states the Headmaster has instructed the pupils to buy from certain shops. Ke forgets he is a public servant and should leave the public to buy where they wish. Yours, etc., JAMES F. JONES. Hastings, Aug. 18, 1927-

The “Tribune’s” endeavour has been to have whatever grievances there are taken direct to the Hastings High School Board of Governors, feeling that it was not in the public interest in general, and of the school in particular, to publish correspondence containing statements which might be subject to correction after the Board had explained the position ; and that, in any case, it was the Board’s right to have an opportunity to deal with complaints first. On these points, however, the writers of letters, hold different views, and ask that the letters be published. Hence the publication. What has been said answers the question why other correspondence has been withheld. The subject matter of the letter is for the Board to reply to if such is their wish. A letter signed “New Zealand Made Goods for Me” will also be published if tho writer will substitute his name for the nom-de-plume. The one whose methods he attacks is in tho open and it is dnlv fair that his critic, ton. should disclose his identity.— Ed. H.B.T.