THE PENNILESS PUBLIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 5

THE PENNILESS PUBLIC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I was quite ' indignant whan, I read your article headed as above. I am sure we, the ‘common herd and serfs of Christchurch, ought to be eternally grateful to the Aristocratic Committee who have had the Royal reception affair in hand. It is the height of presumption for you to suppose that a lot of common working serfs should dare to lift their faces "to gaze ion the: splendour of'their Royal) Highnesses and high-blooded aristocracy of this fair Cathedral City. I, for one, am devoutly thankful that we will he permitted to' walk the streets at all. I fully expected the Governor , and the committee would have issued a proclamation that any of the common herd found leaving their homes between the hours of 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, and Monday, June 24/, would be liable to a penalty not exceeding £2.- That it is not so, I am' sure, shows how thankful the body politic ought, to be, and hence my surprise at your leading article. When we federate we shall have a grand time, and our dominittee, who have been so zealous in ar•'ranging for the comfort of Royalty, and never thought of themselves at all, will, I dl.ubt not, receive titles of Knight of the Cleaver, Knight of the Golden Fleece, Lord High Cook, Lord High Exe cut; oncer, etc., etc., ad lib. —I am; etc., ’UMBLE. TO THE EDITOR. , Sir, —It gave me extreme pleasure to read your Radar oh. the “Penniless. Public ”, in -Monday’s issue. I have also read Mi- C. s 6. Stead’s very feeble defence of •'» very ,bad case. It must be patent to jeyerybody that the committee’s, first concern'was to .get as much money as they could by means of seating accommodation, and not to give the greatest possible 'number the best possible ’view of Saturday’s function. The price of a seat is simply prohibitive to the ordinary public, and is calculated to create a strong' feeling’ of class distinction, that -will net add t«° the success 'of the gathering. Unfortunately for the general public, these matters are superintended by men in receipt i>f large - incomes, who entirely fail to appreciate the position, of the individual who is-.not blessed with so many dollars. They seem to imagine that the person who has not the good luck to be possessed of money is not deserving of any • consideration at their hands, and must shift, as best he can; If some concision ■is not made to the “Penniless Public” before Saturday it wifi be noth lug short of a scandal. I am as loyal a citizen as any in Christchurch, but I shall not cheer myself hoarse on Saturday. I will leave that’ part to those more forhiratolv placed.—l am. etc., ONE OF THE PENNILESS PUBLIC. Good Cheese sd: factory, 6d. Warden’s. " . U