THRIFT AMONGST OUR WORKING CLASSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 185, 6 August 1900, Page 2

THRIFT AMONGST OUR WORKING CLASSES.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Notwithstanding the careless and ! L spendthrift habits of many thoughtless individuals in every community, it 13 ■ :; gratifying to know that a large and in- \ ' creasing number of our working men of :? the present day are making a praise- • : worthy effort to save and become pos- : sessed of a little freehold properly. ■ Judging from my own personal expen- ,'i, ' > ence, after- twenty years' residence in ' the colonies, I think it may be saffely ■-.. said that the majority of wage earners '■ in the city o£ Auckland, either have a-,.,,,,: deposit account In the Savings Bank ■ or Post Office, or are paying off by weekly monthly, or quarterly instalments on :'-[:^ the purchase of a neat cottage or a build- ! „ ing section. . . , ':' ■>: ■! The reckless dissipation and consequent '•:•■■■■•■ poverty,and misery of a generation now ' ;v passing away has, 1 believe (thanks-to ■ the teachings from our pulpits, Sunday * > schools, and the mighty power of the " - press) largely given place to more Care- :';,: ful and sober habits by a wiser class of men and citizens. Were it not for that great blot on our , national character, viz., the curse of .' .. betting and gambling at frequent horse; ';f races and other meetings or sports, it is ■.■■■-■ certain that tens of thousands of pounds every year now dissipated might be ■■!,:, ' saved and safely and profitably employed \ to the permanent advantage and well- ' being of a much larger portion of the community. . , In large workshops, factories, ware- - . houses, or offices the influence and ek- ■ ample of a few leading young men are < often in evidence either for good or evil. Let two or three lively, and. .fluent mdl- > vlduals take to the sport of horse racing 1" for instance and offer to lay odds, how • ' soon does the vice extend? whereas a few men of higher and nobler principles ; and aims similarly situated, manifesting ' j a spirit of thrift, and able to show a bank pass-book for savings deposited or a certificate of title of a little property/; purchased out of his savings, so too;w.lU a spirit of emulation be, kindled, result- ,' ' ing in the betterment and uplifting of many. other young fellows and married, ■ men and families. The Chinaman and Austrian gumaig-": > ger who come here and manage tO'save :t : ~,! £200 or £300 in a few years and then v; ; re.turn to their native country as wealthy. ;■ men should serve as an example &nd 111- * ■ , centive to our working classes' to be likewise frugal and make provision for., a rainy flay whilst they have the.'opportunity. Notwithstanding the millions of money obtained from the sale of gum1 raised,Ju; the province of Auckland, and the enormous amount of' wages paid to bush- ■ fellers, and the like, how few gunidiggers T>r bushmen have we known who have prudently valued their hardearned money or put aside a portion for the time of old age or even for sickness? . It is hoped that a wiser lot of men. are now on the field and in the bush. f ' As giving a practical instance of what can be done by a sober and industrious ,'■ gumdlgger, I would like to mention the j ■■■ case of a young fellow who came up : from one of our northern gumfields a few. da.ys since and called at my office,-, utat-'-Ing he wished to invest in. the purchase, of a cottage to the value of £800 cash and for which in two days he.secured ; " the deeds, paying the amount of pur- , chase money in full, leaving- instructions . for the rent, 12/ per week, ■to be ;cbl-; lected and forwarded to him quarterly. .; My fellow colonists and working. men ; who may scan these lines will'ybu please;] ;.| note what can be done by care and thrift, ;, and strive, if you have not already "Commenced, to make similar provision; so that when* you- decide to start housefree or in case of sickness or incapacity be able to derive a permanent income, v . and -be' independent of charity or relatives. A most instructive; and useful book by Smiles, entitled "Thrift, 1' .pub- , . lished; many years . ago, .frasjjroyed. the means of stimulating thousands of youn| men to. a life of energy, frugality, and usefulness. This publication' is still .a standard work, and may be perused with other noble- wofks, by thesame author in the reading room of , our pUDIIO library.-I am, etc.,. r _ fitmßoW;

Auckland. August 5, ,1900.