HASTINGS BOROUGH FINANCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 140, 28 May 1928, Page 8

HASTINGS BOROUGH FINANCE.

(To The Editor.) Sir. —I was considerably tickled by the back-handed compliment handed to our Mayor and Councillors by one of your correspondents in Saturday’s “Tribune.” After telling them what fine fellows they were to keep on doing the work so few business men are prepared to take a part in, he gets in his fine work. “Why don’t you reduce the price of electricity in the business area that will effect — — “Don’t have a revaluation of the borough that might possibly adversely affect ,” “Why don’t the Borough Council put the stranglehold on every hawker?” no matter whether he is a decent citizen or otherwise—perhaps doing his utmost to earn a living for a wife and family. Root him out like the plague! Are there not plenty of big shops in the town without these little fry trying to creep in? Some misguided individual might say, “But these hawkers are at many times very convenient and cheaper than the big shops.” And the reply would be, “Surely that is no argument; you cannot expect these big shops to carry on in these times of high overhead expenses, and keep their motorcars running at the high price of benzine unless this little stuff is crushed out. In any case “let us all see that every one that dares to hawk anything has his badge in a prominent place.” Might I suggest a broad arrow back and front? “The punishment to fit the crime.” I think that will do in the meanwhile.—l am, etc., ME-SELF. Hastings 28th May. 1928.