PAPERSPAST

OTAGO NOTES

By MAC. ' 'Toryism knows no truce, however imminent the national peril." The New York papera said this of tho crisis in the British Cabinet, as to whether voluntaryism or conscription should prevail in respect to tho war. It is true- of Toryism all over tho world. Even hero in New Zealand tho national welfare-, must tako sccoud placo to Toryism, or as tho Australians call it, Fat. Big profits iuuht'bemado,nomatter whether England or New Zealand sinks or twinis. Big profits must bo made, and even the dependents of our soldiers icannot escape tho profitmciigers. Mr. Massey stands behind tho profit-makers, and ho is going to have conscription sooner thau have pro fits suffer. It is profits everywhere, .iiul all tho time. "With tho profitinakcrs tho word ''patriotism" btunds for big jirofits, vory big profits. 'J'Jicro- Wβ patriotism is a splendid thing, say they, and the employees must by. , failed on o psiy so imticli p<*r veok fovards tho patriotic fund. "Froliis jiiid plunder" seem to bo iho motto of many of our well-to-do penplo sinoo this war started. Tho salety of the country takes second placo to profits, and that i. , - why tho wnr is lasting so lone- -H i:- ;i pity Kuch 1 hiiij*s should bo, but unfortunately it is true. Tho workers hare been fleeced ior a long tims now, on tho proteuco of helpin;.; tho Belgians. Xo doubt many BoJgiajn uc-.yJed holj>, l>ut Bclgiuii relief has cow beoonia n fashionable wax activity. Brewers and lawyers seem to bo taking a big hand in this Belgian relief shibboleth, and as is usual with of th:it type- tlioy want to help the wit of (ithor ])cnplo's (MM.-li'-'.tS. "'".Ct, J.l'o UTll-lxT to pity.'" -.cay thoj-, and deduction;- ar , . mndo from tho workers' vrages, rrhilo idle tv6m€ii go round to the workers' wives and in that way collect more out of tho workers' earnings for Belgian re- Jicf. Euginccvß and secretaries of local bodies, officials who draw eabnwjtrf^

from ten to twenty pounds a week, are also, on tho side of the brewers, tho lawyers and the profit-mongers, in the matter of keeping back so much per' week out of the labourers' wage. It is a dashed shame. If wo had a Government worth, thinking about, wo should have had some of these scandals weeded out long ago. If Massey had done a hundredth part as much to keep down the prices of food as ho has done to got conscription for town workers, wo should havo had r.ioro heart in us to thank God that wo live outside of Russia.

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