BREAD.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 141, 25 November 1895, Page 2

BREAD.

TO TILE EDITOR. iSrn, —Too much time should not be spent discussing this question, because it gives an undce prominence to personal matters, which should, I think, always be hid from view, for while a few gloat over and feast their eyes upon such dismissions the majority of people look on with a kind of disgust. | However, since you have published a letter which I wrote to A. Honey on the 9th instant, it has become necessary to explain that letter and how it came to be written, because it concerns others besides myself. I was driving hurriedly past Honey’s shop on Friday, the day before the letter was written, when Honey shouted out that he wanted to see me I jumped down from the trap, and ho said he wanted to see me about raising the price of bread. I told him that I had not time to discuss the question then, but would see him when I came bade. He said. : “ Bo sure you call; for if you don’t I’ll have to ride into town to-night to see you about it, for unless bread goes up I cannot live.” I did call comma: back, and the result was that I said I did not think my father would ever consent to pat the bread up to the price he (Honey) wished, at ttie present time, because we had a special contract for flour which enabled ns to buy very cheaply, but I added. If ( y./u want it up, the old gentleman will go I a half penny, been,use he is not a man t® crush anyone.” After seeing Mrs Atkins* 1 and consulting my father, I wrote nut an advertisement raising the price of bread a half penny per loaf, an i this advertisei ment was actually in the hands of the printers. After I was in bed that night, Honey came in and told my mother to be sure and tell me to alter the advertisement to read fourpcncc. Remembering the conversation I bad with him the day before, and the great anxiety he expressed then that bread should go up to fourpence, I again consulted with my father, and at his request went and saw Mrs Atkins again, who said that she wished bread to go to fourpenc?. “ Wei, ’ I said, “if Honey and yourself have agreed that fourpence is the price, my father will not stand in the way." It was at this stage of the proceedings that I wrote to Honey, telling him that I had altered the advertisement; and even at this early stage, fearing some duplicity, I reminded him that we treated him as a man of his word. The reference to the price of Dunedin flour was in answer to an inquiry of his! I saw Honey again in town on the Monday morning, before the advertisement appeared, and he said, “ I got your letter. That will be all right , we’ve all agreed at last.” It should be mentioned here that Honey wanted bread to go up last June, but my father would not consent then. It has remained for Honey—Alfred Honey, the Kakaramea baker—-to charge my father with falsehood, wilful falsehood; a term of the most loathsome kind, but which in reality would never require to be used were there more men like my father in the world. Deceit and duplicity are foreign to his nature; hence in this case be treated Honey as a reliable man. But here is the place where I must bring my father in for censure ; for he should have known better. —I am, etc., W. K. Howitt. Patea, Nov. 22nd, 1895. [lt seems unfortunate that the writer so soon forget the opening paragraph of , his letter, while it is not insignificant that the direct admission is made that the price of bread was raised, not account of the rise in the price of flour, but because Mr Ho wilt “is not a man to crush anyone.” Those who are asked to pay the higher price for their breai may, perhaps, have a different opinion on the subject. When friends fall out the truth comes out—Ed. P.C P.]