THE HERRIES’ BEQUEST

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6408, 30 October 1923, Page 8

THE HERRIES’ BEQUEST

(To the Editor) Sir, —Mr Motley in his letter appearing in Saturday’s “News” re the above Bequest, asks “is Mr Strange one of the burgesses of Te Aroha? If not, why does he obtrude his opinions on such a matter without being asked.” Firstly I have the right as a personal friend of the late Sir William Herries. Secondly, though not on the burgesses roll, I probably have a greater monetary interest in Te Aroha than Mr Motley himself. Thirdly, I have the right as a free citizen to express my opinion on anything appertaining to the public weal, without “fear or favor.” I indeed feel grateful to Mr Motley for enlightening me re the meaning of the word amenities, and would like to ask why he did not bear the meaning in his mind when he wrote his letter. While accepting his quotation from Webster’s, I cannot accept his paraphrasing of the same. The whole matter narrows itself down to the question: Is a Ladies’ Rest Room a suitable building to erect with a portion of the Bequest, or is it not? I still obtrude my opinion that it is not. This is also the opinion of the Public Trustee as conveyed to the members of the Borough Council previously, and I hope that he will still adhere to his previous resolution not to hand the money over for such a purpose.—l am, etc., F. M. STRANGE.