MAYORAL ELECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6790, 19 November 1883, Page 4

MAYORAL ELECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —The candidates for the Mayoral chair might explain at some of their meetings how it comes that the Corporation have spent £60 on the construction of a culvert at Logan's Point Quarry j and also, why the contract is taken off the hands of the contractor before the work has been properly finished according to specifications. ■ They might also state the probable cost of putting the. said culvert into position. Why should the city take this work in hand. It appears to ma, the only ones who receive any benefit from the road across Pelichet Bay are those who reside on the Weßt Harbour district and the proprietors of the Logan's Point quarry.—l am, &c, &TI2EN. Dunedin, November 17.

TO'THE EDITOB. Sib,—What trouble and anxiety might be saved to the candidates in the coming election were the ancient practice followed out which was adopted by the good people of Grimsby, Yorkshire, England. In Chambers' Journal, October 9, 1880, I note the following :—" In olden days the burgesses of Grimsby were want to decide which among them should be mayor by a very odd process. Having chosen three of their number as eligible for the position, they blindfolded them, tied bunches of hay at their backs, and conducted them to the common pound, where a calf awaited their coming. He whose bunch of hay was first eaten by the calf was pronounced most worthy of the mayoralty, and installed into office accordingly." It was certainly far from complimentary to couacillors that their election should be decided by a " calf"; but it must be remembered that the actions of many councillors ia this world—Dunedin included — have not shown much wisdom. The writer remembers, in the early days of Viotoria, what time and trouble was expended before a byelaw to compel cabs to carry lights was "rigged up" by the City Council. The first bye-law enacted that cabs should carry lamps." Lamps wera carried. A second bye-law ordered cabby to " put caudles in the lamps." Cabby did so, but darkness still prevailed. At last some lumineus councillor invested a third byelaw compelling cabs to "carry lights after dark." This was a Buccess. It took a long time, bat all went happily afterwards. Dunedin councillors have at times given reasons for the supposition that they had been selected by a "calf," or were even the animal himself. Note, for instance, the recent delay and botheration re the transfer of a tramway contract.—l am, &C" H.H. Novemberl7. __^_

BUTCHERS' MEAT. TO THE EDITOB/

Sib,—l notice a letter by a party who is vexed that he has to pay another penny for his joint, ani promising his and his fellow-citizens support to the firm that would break through the " combination." There is no such a thing as " combination." The meeting was brought about by leading stock agents intimating that if the butchers did not rise their prices they would soon be "up the spout"; and as sufferers know where the shoe pinches, they all attended. I think there has been enough of co-operative.swindles in the past to deter and frighten others from having anything to do with them. You cannot have "dividends and cheap articles out of the same shop except on one condition—and that is no " bad debts. Past experience has taught me that " credit means "unavoidable" losses. Customers demand credit as a right, and it is impossible to do a large business without giving credit. . Some folks think that it is. not "respectable" to pay cash ! This being the case, the only way for the honest to avoid paying for the dishonest and yet keep up the "respectability of obtaining credit "is by co-operation. Thus, if Bay 500 consumers were to combine in a company or society and take up in Bhares equivalent to what they would require in a month's credit, bad debts would be avoided. In other words, the shares would be held as security for the due payments of their debts. By selling at the same price for cash only to outsiders there would arise sufficient profit to enable a dividend of at least 20 per cent, to be paid to investors. Put it which way yon will, the cash customer " greases " the " wheels " which make concerns "run." Those who obtain credit must pay, along with the cash customers, all those very large amounts which figure at the meetings of creditors. Should you, Mr Editor, in your wisdom see fit to call attention to such an important " desideratum" in the community, I will be most happy to assist the undertaking by becoming one of its largest shareholders. Of the success, I could bring proof of a similar undertaking elsewhere. Carried out on the above principles, consumers would get the " best article at the lowest possible price in reality.—l am, &c. _ A. V. November 17.