OUR LETTER BOX

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 156, 6 July 1904, Page 2

OUR LETTER BOX

(ire are at all times willing to publish norrespondence on matters oI public interest, but it must be distinctly understood that we are not identified with the letters of our correspondents.—Kd. Daily JJcwk.)

CONCENTRATING! TRADE. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Your article in Monday morning's Daily News on the development of the dairying industry in South Canteitiliry is suggestive as showing the advanUi/go of concentrath<g| trade at a given point. The Timaru people are evidently solicitous as to the interests of their port, and consequently are alive to the importance of making it a chief outlet for dairy produce in the South Island. Jlow is it that the people of New Plymouth and district cannot follow on the same lines in regard to the general trade of the outlying portions of the Taranaki district. If we want harbour developments at Moturoa we must take steps to concentrate trade at the breakwater. There have been proposals made from time to time ailwut establishing a local shipping company, the boats of which shall run to certain points on the coast with merchandise from New Plymouth, bringing as return enrge any produce that may be raised in those districts. The actual accomplishment of this proposal and the directing of the traffic of arterial roadways to this town should be secured at once, or else there will be the usual result, viz., whilst New Plymouth is thinking about it some other centre is more alert, and we are left behind, bewailing, another lost opportunity.—l am, etc., GO-AHEAD. IMPORTANT CONSOLIDATION PROPOSAL. (To the Editor.) Sir,—May I be allowed to express a conjecture as to the motive of the above proposal. The proposal is to buy certain imposing hotel properties in Wellington, and to allot the same to tho public generally in shares, setting forth that such is a very promising commercial undertaking, and therefore a commeiidalbje concern. In my opinion the ahove proposal is a skilful attempt to capture the pu'blic sympathy with licensed houses, and thereby with the liquor Interest generally. Such an offer may easily induce some to jump at it from a commercial point l of view only, without considering what it will ultimately lead to. Rut it is a good thing to look ahead. Now we all know that the money-making element In such institutions is the liquor commodity, and shareholders in the above proposal would become miniature licensed victuallers. The licensed victuallers realise that their craft is in danger, hence they would like to enlist public sympathy, by hook or crook.—l um, etc., WATCHWORD. THE RECREATION GROUNDS. (To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln your issue of "Botanist and Sportsman" haa a little effusion in which lie considers he flattens out Mr Collds' proposals for improving the Recreation Grounds, and then goes on to give members of the . bound a little advice. Probably ho means well, but if he cannot rise from his old-time ideas and bring himself up to the spirit of tho times the least ho can do Is to keep quiet and abstain from his policy of hindrance. When we have a citizen who is prepared to devote a large amount of his time to the preparation of a scheme for the public weal, what ho wants is support, sonio kind friend who will give him a "shove onward." Instead of that this human mixture of sport and botany sets to work with a wet blanket. The scheme Wrought forward seems n good one. and nt any rate it is one way of doing a work that must be done sooner or Inter, and the sooner the better. It will lie dono, too, despito your correspondent's bitter lament about departing from the original aims mid purposes of tho board. That board doparted years ago from its conservative position of a trust to adminisscenic tonics, recognising that u sports ground was a splendid rev-enue-producer. Well, the better the ground the bigger tho revenue. Wo, the public of Now Plymouth, have to get a good sports ground. Some are trying to make one at Western Park, some at the racecourse, some at Vogeltown. Twenty years' work und twenty years' expenditure will never provide in either of these places a ground approaching tho Recreation Ground with the expenditure of, say, a thousand pounds. Besides, it is handy, well sheltered, and part of one of the loveliest of pleasure grounds. "Botanist and Sportsman"' says the ground was' ample for the 'band contest, "and we do not want, a bigger crowd than we had then." What utter nonsense ! Perhaps wo don't want a bigger crowd than New Plymouth had forty or fifty years ago, if his argument is to be carried out. What wo want is a bigger crowd every year than we've over had before ; a ground that can bo played on in any weather instead of tho present slush-pool that hits to be used if rain has fallen within a week ; a track to attract running and cycling men from other parts ; a livo body to administer the grounds; and a plaguo to carry off the unfortunately near-sighted people who decry every attempt to make New Plymouth up-to-date and uttrnctivo to outsiders. Wo want several thousands of people here next Christinas for tho carnival, and a stop put to our 'down-in-the-mouth friends who cry down New Plymouth instead of cracking It up. And we want men who write to the papers to irign their names. Thanking you in anticipation, I am, etc., P. 11. HOSS, Jun. IMPROVEMENTS TO RECREATION GROUNDS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—At some considerable length W. A. Collis replies to my letter of Monday. Ho fails to grasp the subject rightly. Cynicism is not argument. I feel flattered that Mr Collis has already thought out my plan. I cannot see that the Recreation

Hoard has shown any "half-hearted policy us regards sport." Hotter abandon sport of all kinds than allow our beautiful grounds to be defiled by the noisy yells of belting men, as was the case on E-aster Monday. However, to get to tho point. I am told Mr Collis' pet plan iB to spend £2ooo,and reserve a portion of the eastern hill, raising the present ground some feet. For argument's sake I'll assume two chains inoro can lw added to tho sports ground. What good will it ho'? There will not be room sufficient for two cricket matches simultaneously, and two football matches at ono timo will in no way Increase the receipts, but only he a kind of an annoyance to spectators. Mr Oollis should know, if lie has studied tho matter at nil, that, a very little removing of the east hill will opon tho 'grounds to the rough north-east wind. There are, howevnr, members on the Recrontlon Hoard who will protect our property ; and (without any egotism on my part, I may say I think my KiifitfiPßtlon of Monday a good ono, and ,t|)uitfl original), as far ns possible prevent Mr Collie from having any say in the matter, as up to tho present that gentleman has never shone' as either a sport or Hotanis*. I am sorry I must still write under a nom-de-plumo ; my name would only invite some of your readers to exclaim—as I heard many jjo so this (Tuesday) morning—"What" the ■ - does ho know about It V'—l am, etc BOTANIST & SPORT. July sth, 1904.