THE BREAD TAX.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6313, 13 September 1907, Page 6

THE BREAD TAX.

CEo the Editor “TTT TiniMQ Sir,—Mr P, Virtue appears to has* M his temper, if I may judge by hit I&teai plea for the continuance of the bread I have no desire to accept any of hi] wonderful “challenges," nor is it my In ten tion to prove the connection of his virih company with any other association o« "combine." I merely repeat that, wsft! Mi Virtue has been claiming credit lor fight ing the flour trust, he is polling with the trust to maintain the tax on bread. Mr Virtue complains that I have not opposed **tha exorbitant duty on boots," Surely his memory- must be defective, for if he looks up his “New Zealand Timee” he will see that I have denounced the duties on boots, and that I have pointed out that the boot factories of this country employ only 2204 persons. Mr Virtue should not have for* gotten that letter, because it also contained my expose of bis generosity in donating cheques to sundry labour organisations, and it evoked from him an admission that he had sent £lO to the Wellington bakers* picnic. While on this phase of the sub* ject, by the way, X might also be allowed to issue a “challenge.'' I challenge Mr Virtue to deny that be has also sent a consignment of flour to the Wellington. Trades and Labour Council. I ask him also if it is not a fact that the Wellington Trades and Labour Council refused the gift, but passed it on to the Benevolent Trukeea. Mr Virtue, I am sure, will not object' to this publication of his disinterested generosity. The Wellington Trades and Labour Council are less tractable than the Auckland Council, as they have not yet passed a resolution in favour, of the bread tan—l am, etc, _ £. J, O'EEGAN. September 11th.