WORK AT CEMETERY

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9206, 7 April 1938, Page 3

WORK AT CEMETERY

Sir, —In connection with the Returned Soldiers’ graves in the Waihi cemetery, I was asked how much it would cost for 12 graves with marble panel, five inches long by ten inches wide, with the inscription on stone with a camber top, and I gave the president and secretary a price of £5 per grave, the Borough Council supplying metal, which, from my point of view, was a generous offer, and also the allowance of £2 per section was given free. Now, Mr Editor, they always say that charity begins at home and I might state that I have had,on and off, 28 years’ experience with monumental work and plastering, and seeing that the money was raised in our own town I would like to ask why was the local man not asked, as I was given to understand that it was going by tender, and now I find that they are paying £2 10s more per grave than the offer that was submitted to them, and in going outside the money goes also. I would like to bring this to the notice of the public of Waihi as there may be another call on their purse for the balance on some future occasion to go outside the town also. I am at present cleaning and plastering the Seddon Memorial and I would like to get some of the so-called critics to view it after I have finished. There is an old saying which we hear every day of our lives: “Live and let live” —why not? —I am, etc.. C. DAVIDSON.

[The above letter was submitted to the president of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr J. Mitchell. ' He informs us that Mr Davidson was never asked to submit prices. Pie did so voluntarily to individual members of the committee, the lowest of which wa3 £6. It was pointed out to Mr Davidson that a committee and not an individual would make all decisions. That committee did decide. Mr Davidson is aware of the circumstances, added Mr Mitchell, which caused the association to depart from local industry. Does he wish to have those circumstances made public?