LUXURY IMPORTATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19763, 14 April 1926, Page 13

LUXURY IMPORTATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The export and import figures for the current period are sufficient to make even fools think, and the Prime Minister should at once don his considering cap and pass an Order-in-Council forbidding the importation of any more motor ars for at least 12 months, and postpone the payment for a like period for those already imnorted and purchased. Road hogs, like the Gadarene swine of old. _ are running themselves and the Dominion into seas of debt, and only the most drastic measures will restrain them.— I am, etc., Pedestrian.

PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOR Sib,—ln the letter of Mr Thomas Anderson, which appeared in your issue of to-day, there is little, apart from the opening sentence, and the fact that my nan- appears 12 times, to indicate that it is seriously intended to be a reply to my criticism at the public meeting called bv Mr Anderson himself, as Mayor, or of my lett which appeared in your paper of Wednesday last. I bave neither the time nor the inclination to reply to the personalities in which be has seen fit to indulge, nor do . intend to allow myslf to be side-tracked by the irrelevant statements introduced to cloud the issue. There are only two points I would like to touch upon. First. lam accused of ‘breach of trust.' in stating, for the information of ratepayers, the true financial position of the borough. 1 cannot understand the mentality of . .e person who can see in my statement of the position as it appeared in your columns anything which in the least resembles breach of trust, but will leave it to the ratepayers to fudge as to whether the trouble is not rather that the facts disclosed effectually dispose of the bogey raised about the had state of the borough finances. Then, my statement as to the cost of the Mussel Bay work is called in question. It is alleged that the cost w.as “probably £MOO or £5000.” instead of the £l9Bl 7s Id s stated by me. My statement is take*- from the accounts, as examined and passed by the Government auditor, and the statement by the Mayor is a very grave re r ection on that officer and one which should not have been made without the clearest evidence. I have not the slightest hesitation : n claiming that no such evidence exists and. as a ratepayer of Fort Chalmers. I call upon the Mavor and those associated with him in making the statements, to substantiate them or withdraw. Otherwise I will leave -•our renders to judge where tlm truffi lies.— I am. etc.. JOHN TAIT. Port Chalmers, April 12.