THE TARANAKI FARRIERS' AND BLACKSMITHS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14019, 25 September 1909, Page 4

THE TARANAKI FARRIERS' AND BLACKSMITHS' ASSOCIATION.

(To the Editor.) f Sir, — If the treatment meted out tc me is any criterion, that old proverb, "Fair play is bonny play," does not ! commend itself to the executive of the above association. Like kindred societies, the principal object of its formation was the securing of a uniform and fair charge throughout the district, and the mutual support and benefit of its members. This beinjj so, a record of my personal experience may be interesting and instructive Little more than one month from tht it °lt. my , In » ti » t «on 1 had reason tc doubt the bona fides of « prominent New Plymouth smith, and thereupon by letter requested the secretary to make inquiries. I received a 'non committal reply, hoping things would improve and so on. No request ioi particulars was made and no actioi taken. In the following August, finding things had gone from bad to won,e that there was another defaulter, ami that my trade was being seriously dam •S«l, * wrote the secretary again, statmg I had proof of under-selling, aixl intimating that if steps wore not taken to stop it I must protect myself. The reply I received was to the effect that he, tbe secretary, was neither the association or the executive, and I COII . eluded that for me there was no redress. lam free to confes., that I did uot make the formal complaint an pei rules, being actuated by a dc?u re £^i Shidd tl "' "^fndcri, fi.)in the full consequences ot their acts. Mark what followed. In a solitary instance, and upon very Hiuisy evidence I was charged and found guilty of beiii» a defaulter, and my supplies „f iroH stopped with recourse. Upon this, realising that my leniency was beinp used to damage my trade, 1 iorwarded an explicit and definite charge, gn.njz names and dates, with assurance that I could prove it up to the hilt. Thr result to date is nil. 1 am told the executive is too busy with other matters just now. One wonders how, in the midst of their mult ; farious duties, they found time to attend to me when they cannot deal with the case of two notorious and persistent defaulters whose delinquences they must have been cognizant of for months. Surely it is not because I ajn a stranger, and in their eyes an interloper. Whatever the cause, it is evident I have been most unfairly treated, and that the mutual support and benefit clause is uot intended for — Youre, etc., MARTIN SHIVNAN.