THE MAN OF LEISURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 154, 1 July 1924, Page 13

THE MAN OF LEISURE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The person who is responsible for the article entitled "The Man of Leisure," published in Thursday's issue, surely belongs to the same class. Hundreds of workers are attracted to Auckland periodically for a holiday. Every individual does not spend his time alike, and provided the traffic is not affected if a certain number choose to look at and probably admire their fellow workmen, where is the harm. As for those who prefer to loiter in parks enjoying their smoke while appreciating the surroundings, they are better occupied than in loitering in public house bars, and the same applies to those who enjoy a seat on the sea front. It must be obvious to all fair minded citizens that unless people misconduct themselves by wilfully breaking the by-laws by obstruction, etc., they have a perfect riarht to spend their leisure time as they like, and it should be without fear of criticism such as that levelled at them by the author of 'The Man of Leisure."—! am, etc. S.S.S. Another correspondent, "T.S." points out that a very considerable proportion of the persons who are apparently without occupation and just loitering the time away are unfortunates who have failed in the search for employment in spite of every endeavour, and are not subjects of charity, for always having been careful they still have a small amount of money put by. He instances the case of a man, middleaged, who, though physically fit, has within the past few months made over 100 applications for work until, being prepared to undertake anything offering, he is nearly heart-broken by failure. There is the never-ending stream of questions about former employment and

reason for leaving it, and then a promise to communicate after seeing others, and then nothing more.