MR SCHLAEPFER'S MISTAKE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13874, 10 April 1909, Page 7

MR SCHLAEPFER'S MISTAKE.

To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald." Sir, —At the last meeting of the Mackenzie County Council a request for more substantial repairs to the Mount Cook station road aroused an extraordinary tirade from Mr Schlaepfer, a Teljapo Riding member. Among other wild statements he charged me with ■untruthfulness over the number of bales said to be hauled upon the new portion of the road. As some people will be tempted to believe their riding member before a ratepayer, will you allow me space to state' the facts* of the case.

The Mount Cook clip was hauled by three waggons in two trips of seventeen, seventeen and eighteen bales for ten miles till the sound road at Braemar was reached, when the whole was loaded on to the three waggons, two thirtyfives and one thirty-four, after which the teams double banked each waggon for six miles up the Braemar slopes. The road this side of Braemar is comparatively a- very sound one, and can be safely left in the hands of Balmoral station and Mr Schlaepfer. to be looked -after. lam vitally concerned with the condition of the Mount Cook access road. Now Mr Schlaepfer has given abroad that the thirty-five bale loads came direct; from the station. In this he is unfortunate, for as riding mem- . ber he should know more ■ of the district he represents- than-to dream for one moment that waggoners could be . found so absolutely mad as to attempt , a load of thirty-five bales over the station access road. And from a seat in a Council Chamber to charge a constituent ' with untruthfulness is the depth of bad form. —1 am, etc..

T. D. BURNETT. CaTc^j&^T^r:'