Mr W. JDeeble and the Price of Provisions.

Thames Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8389, 27 June 1896, Page 2

Mr W. JDeeble and the Price of Provisions.

(To the Editor of the Thames Stae.) Sir,—l observed a letter lately in your widely circulating journal signed Wro. Deeble, who besins his letfea by saying "if the correspondent who is writing about the price of provisions, would not take su-h a narrow vuw of matters, liU would wr'te more about the railway and mining, he would do more gaol" Now, if it is the interest of the Thames Mr Deeble his got 60 much to heart, how is it he is only interested in advocatirg the claims of two p rsons connectedwith his family in regard to the issue of mine managers' certificates, and why does he not show the interest he has got towards the miner in a more praitical way ? I am sure tbab all in the community will agree with me that the price ©f provisions affeots them more thin any other question, as any price exacted from them by overcharges tends to impoverish the many and tnrich the niidJlc-: man. Bit then I don't keep a " toicmy shop,'' so for holding these views and advocating co-operation, we are considered by Mr Debbie as rather narrow in our view?, I haie a new-pap?r before me which sfc'tes that the price of eood prime beef at the tale yards is 19s to 20* per cwt., j and I can spe by my own bills that for good beef I am charged 6<i per lb and coarser joiots 4d, and as the skin, fat, <fc<\, are always estimated by the trade as equal to a quarter, it leaves 5 quarters to be eslimaud. Why, I ask, are we paying l^d and in some cases 2d per lb more for our meat than is charged in Auckland and its jsuburbs? I would suggest that a similar meeting be culled here like that held in Waihi lately, where Mr Dfeble's name received some prominence, and we will then see how many of as (at such a meeting) 1 would p'ed^e ourselves to support a butcher : who will sell meat at a fair price. My ! whole sympathy is with your correspon ! font, or any other man who comes forward and endeav ur9 to help to fill themouhs of our poor and are that justice ia done. Now, is n»t Mr Deeble's effusion more an .elec ion dodge than any care for the miners ? The disguise was of to > thin h nauire to *low of any person being nude a fool of by it In regard to our railway, I find more fault with the Thames paople, as a body, than with any individual. Has not the Borough Courcil, on the motion of the M*yor, Councillor Wood, and others, brought the matter forward several times ? Yet, what support has the public given them? Let Mr Deeble and his friends, instead of finding fault, ask the Mayor to call a public meeting to discuss the question, and let ihe people as a body agitate for the compl tion of thb railway. I think that a rrori6tcr petition, s;goid by the reside; U in the Borough and country, would have more weight with the Government than any other me»n< we a uld adopt. It would strengthen the hands of our representatives—Messrs McGowanand Kelk. As Ido net trouble you often, Mr Et'Uor, I trust that you will insert tnese few Hoes, and hope that my few suggestions will a-u-ist materially in getting us cheap meat, help the miners, atid also do gime good in getting onr railway an accomplished fuel.—l am, etc., j Ca-OJ?JSBATr Q y.