PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14774, 13 October 1921, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents, whoso letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no -psoonsibility. CARRIAGE OF MEAT (To the Editor.)

Sir, —It would amount to an injus- ! tice both to carriers and butchers to j allow certain glaring mis-statements I concerning the meat traffic, which apI pcared in Tuesday night's edition of I your paper, to pass unchallenged. j Briefly, it was alleged that meat was I brought to a certain butcher's shop I covered with a tarpaulin only. It will j doubtless be to this person's edification 1 to inform him that no motor-lorry supi plying meat lo Hamilton butchers I travels without an entire covering of I regularly-cleaned meatoloth between the meat and the tarpaulin, and that in the particular shop alluded lo meat has on no occasion been delivered without this double covering. The statement referred to amounts to a deliberate perversion of the truth, and it certainly appears as if its author does not hesitate to employ underhand means in attaining his purpose. ,Likewise it, might also interest him to know that all the regular lorries are thoroughly scoured and cleansed before each trip, ; and absolutely no smell of any description is noticeable. It is possible the author of these mistakes is confusing the offal lorry, which removes remnants and scraps, etc., at about the same lime, with the regular meat lorries. Hoping these brief remarks will enlighten the author of these fabrications, —1 am, etc, TRUTH. OUR BAND. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The Hamilton Chamber of Com merce undoubtedly hit the nail on the head when it recognised the advertising qualities of our Band. There is no doubt about the way that our town has been advertised. There is no doubt that our Band entered the lists against all-comers and emerged triumphant. But, as an old bandsman, I was more than disappointed-at their reception and the. enthusiasm of the Hamilton people I Contrast Ibis to (he reception to Wa 1- j ganui Band when they arrived back from their success at Ballarat. Now, there is one little thing I would like to voiei, and it is this: Would it not be a nic: liltle tribute lo these men, who have lost time and money (their hobby certainly) to advertise Hamilton, for our town to present eacli member with medal to commemorate their victor. (1 do not belong to the Band)—l am, etc., METRONONE. MOTOR 'BUS SERVICE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In reading your paper of lasL night I was surprised to conic across a letter signed by "Three Pence," dealing with the motor 'bus service which wo arc running befwen Hamilton and Frankton, and in fairness to us 1 trusi you will give me space for this reply, in Ihe first place, were it no*t for the fact that misunderstanding may arise as a result of this letter, I should not reply unless lhe writer signed his name. Every man worthy of the name values that name, and such value is shared by the public according to their estimation of Hie person concerned, and if a man is ashamed lo sign his name to a topic such as iiiis. well, I should say the value of his opinion is about on a par with his nom-de-phiino. However, to deal with mailers as. it affects lhe company. 1 think we can claim to have the interests of the travelling public at

heart, and to prove that we have given the. service which has been, up to the present, only a question of having paid wages, for every member of our company is a worker, so there is no om getting undue profits out of the business. This is all a question of turnover, anil if sufficient people travel to till the 'buses on every trip, naturally the service would pay at half the price which would have to be charged if lhe

'buses went half empty on the bulk of the trips, as they are doing at the present time. With the growth of population this matter will gradually right itself. "Three Pence" has evidently been indulging in a Hip Van Winkle sleep, for if he had been reading 11; • Times, as he should have done, lie would have noticed an announcement nearly three months ago advising that we had decided to equip our service wit:i Daimler 'buses, thus recognising the importance of this growing service. This 'bus is now in the hands of the coachbuilders, and the sooner it is on the road the better we will be pleased. When it is we feel certain that "Three Pence" will not object to spend the fare in a ride. In fact if "Three Pence" will only come out into the open and tell us who he is we will .guarantee to give him a free ride the first day in which the 'bus is on the road. Then, at night time he will be able to see Lhe 'bus brilliantly lit up svifli electric lights, a special lamp showing on to the step and provision being made for the old and needy, so that 'Three Pence," if lie is amongst the elder of the community, will ne able lo ride in that degree of comfort which he so much desires and which we are offering to the public. This 'bus will cost, us nearly £2OOO, and 1 venture to say will be equal lo any service in New Zealand or Australia. 1 might monition, in conclusion, that very often the 'bus which we are running at. ;; a.m. from Hamilton lo l-'ranklon does not. carry sufficient passengers lo pay for lhe cost of petrol in running, let alone driver's wages and all other charges. We have maintained lhe secvice faithfully, and as l/me goes on we shall improve on Ihe lines already indicatcd. i am, elc, C. W. lIAWLt.N'SnN. Manager Waikalo Mi,tor Co.