IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 104, 3 May 1923, Page 11

IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

(To the Eflltor.) ,Rir, —As a rule the above remark calls fortli a derisive smile on the face of our present generation. They cannot imagine the glaring difference an old colonist sees in the state of the country of then and now. In the good old days, when skilled labour commanded 10/ per day, unskilled 8/, and yet could house, feed and clothe their families better than they do with more than twice the wages at present, which they in sheer self preservation had to force up by means of unions, sectarian strife was unknown. I saw Father Walter, on foot and on horseback, surrounded by scores of children, who cheered him to the echo. I saw Mr. Davey Goldie rule the city efficiently and well on a rate of 2/ in the pound, and there were scores and scores of objects on which to spend this moderate rate. We were a sturdy, happy and self-reliant lot. We had more changes in the Government, if it did not please us, than now. I recollect the time, just before Mr Ooldie became Mayor, our civic rulers did not please Us jwe held indignation meetings, formed a ratepayers' protection society, chose Mr. Ooldie as Mayor, and changed affairs to our satisfaction for a long time. Socially we were not hectored from doing this, thst, and the other. Wo lived peaceably and happily with one another, and New Zealand was a delightful liitle country to live in. The progress our rulers boast about cannot amount to much when in a new country, which can. hardly boast one inhabitant to tho acre, the workers have to live and rear families in slums. There is no gainsaying the fact where three or four families live in a small house it is a slum, which is so much more glaring in comparison to London slums. The room for which the London worker pays 2/6 or 3/, our workers pay 10/ or 12/. The reason for this is not far to seek, as one of your correspondents pointed out. The interest on the enormous sum we owe is more than five million yearly, and still our rulers 'borrow, borrow, borrow. The strangest part of this borrowing policy is that it is never opposed by workers or their representatives in Parliament, because the only advantage they reap from these loans is a little ; more tomnorarv employment, and, being j the majority, they pay the interest and live in slums. Xot only have our economic conditions altered for the worse, our social and religious conditions have done the same. Of the time I write of it was unknown to hound down on account of his creed a citizen who has given undoubted proof of his ability and loyalty to Xcw Zealand.—l am. etc., PHOTESTAXT,