Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5895649

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Henry McGuigan

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4 corrections, most recently by crofty333 - Show corrections

THE CATERING FOR THE HOSPI

TAL BALL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.

Sir,-I was much surprised, when reading in your issue of the 12th inst the report of the weekly meeting of the committee of management of the Melbourne Hospital, to find that very unjust and damaging statements about my catering had been made thereat by Mr. Henry McGuigan, in support of the ball sub-committee having given 1s. per head more, with a guarantee of 500, than I tendered to do it for without a guarantee. And I would have challenged those statements at once but I did not wish to militate against the success of the ball by any unpleasant controversy. But now, Sir, that the hospital charity ball of 1876 is a thing of the past, I trust you will afford me space in your widely circulated columns to set myself right with the public.

I wish to remark, before replying to the statements of Mr. McGuigan, that I fully admit the duty of any committee acting in the interests of a charitable or other entertain ment to select whomsoever they may think most competent to carry out their arrange« ments ; also, that in contracts for the supply of viands the tenderer's prices should not be the principal consideration, but that satis factory performance of previous similar con tracts should entitle a tenderer at the lower figure to the most favourable consideration, and more especially if the object be a chari

table one.  

Now, Sir, with reference to Mr. McGuigan's   statements, as reported by you, that my pre vious catering had been unsatisfactory. I can only state that I have for the past three years catered for the hospital charity balls, without one word of complaint eman ating from the committee ; that I have each year submitted with my tenders of prices a bill of fare and a wine list of brands and qua lities of wines to be supplied, and I am pre pared to make a statutory declaration that I

have in no one instance supplied or substi tuted other than the exact brands or qua lities that my contract set forth, and had I given dissatisfaction on the occasions re- ferred to, it would surely have been the duty of the committee to have expressed their

discontent at the time.

I admit that great diversity of opinion exists as to the respective merits of the varions brands of sparkling wines, but I maintain if a caterer supplies them strictly in accordance with the specification adopted by the Wine Committee, he should not be blamed if the public are dissatisfied.

In conclusion. Sir, I would ask your readers to form their own opinions as to the good taste and public spirit exhibited by Mr.

Henry McGuigan, as one of the ball subcom mittee, in endeavouring to malign my repu tation as a caterer, to further the interests of one of his own customers, as I am in a position to prove he actually supplied the caterer with the wines for last evenings entertainment. Further comment, I think,

is needless.

-I am, &c.,

July l8, J. F. GUNSLER  

ïrinted and publisher- hy Hoon Ososo;, jj*«*

i Afeaos Office, Colllns-strect, Melbourne, (or WiUM« | and MAMuasoi. proprietors.

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