AN OPEN LETTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13755, 6 February 1919, Page 5

AN OPEN LETTER.

TO THE BUSINESS MEN OF

MASTERTON,

Gentlemen, —

'Getting -together .

means a lot in this old world of ours. rThe average Englishman (and colonial), imbued with the splendid isolation idea of bygone days, often finds his conservatism a heavy handicap in the struggle for life, but the war has done much to enlighten him, and peace, it is to be ihoped, will do more. It does us good sometimes to see things from the other fellow's standpoint. The chaps we meet fairly regularly every day in the course of ordin.ary routine, and with whom we conduct the ordinary daily business, favouring them besides perhaps with our views of t gfce weather and nothing, more, are of like passions as ourselves , ' — men with experience of life from widely varying viewpoints, with wife and .kiddies at home, with ideas and hobbies —men probably who could help and be ielped by closer acquaintanceship to make life run more smoothly, pleasantly and helpfully, but somehow because of reticence on the one hand, or on both sides, probably acquaintanceship stops at the threshold, and all the golden opportunities of what "might have been" Wt are lost. r The old saying that '' there can be no friendships in business" is true enough. Misunderstanding and inability to keep a bargain will soon sow discord because the only way of doing business 13 in a business way. Charity finds no ■Dlace in an office or factory, except on the shelf; and because circumstances make a millionaire of one man and a pauper of another, the social road branches off in widely divergent ways—luxury the travelling companion of the one, and struggling poverty of the other — .and most of the time each hungry for the other fellow's fellowship. There can be no getting together in business, except such combinations as recognised by law, where every shareholder pays his f"ooting and draws his dividend accord|g to his invested capital. It is the calm of sport that displays the open door, and if men desire a better understanding of their fellows, let them energetically pursue whatever hobby fan: «y dictates, endeavouring by closer touch with kindred spirits to foster that jgood companionship faculty so sadly

lacking. To those anxious to learn what good really is, let me reeommend to them as one step in the right direction the pastime of chess. The fascination of the game, with its inexhaustible possibilitiea reflecting the individuality of the players, is never-ending. Money cannot buy, or social position influence, the position of the player on its ladder of fame, the top rung of ■which is as much within the reach of he •with the threadbare coat as my lord with the velvet jacket. The doors of the Chess Club are open to any who care to come along, and both in the club room and out it will be found that the «evailing laws of the game endeavour fashion all its members into "good companions." During Easter it is hop-' •ed to hold a monster chess rally at Masterton. "Worthy citizens from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wanganui, Napier, Gisborne and South Wairarapa will be with us. What about the business men of Masterton meeting the visitors at a public dinner and "getting together?" A unique opportunity, this! Will the business men of Masterton help? A. CLEMAS, Hon. Sec. Masterton Chess Club.