WORKERS AND "LABOUR,"

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14666, 15 May 1913, Page 8

WORKERS AND "LABOUR,"

TO TnE KDITOn OK "THE riIESS."

Sir, —Dull weather on the farm gives mo a few leisure hours, otherwise I should not havo written, for I fully recognise I am neither an intellectual giant nor a literary genius, hut just a common toiler. But lam proud of the fact, because I am a conscientious believer in tho true dignity of labour, and feel that, after putting in eight hours' solid work each day, I am no enemy to my country, whether I am a Tory, Liberal, or vegeterian, providing, of course, I am not a moral, leper. Now, to the point. After reading several of your editorials this afternoon, I feel that you display too much bitterness in your criticism of tho worker. Certainly, you often remember to speak favourably oi the honest toiler, who is endeavouring to set aside his prejudices and give intellectualism and capitalism the credit due to them in developing the country, yet, at times, your editorials act as an irritant i. as a blister. And , why? Simply because they are not free from a toeling I cannot describe. This excess of feeling and extravagance of language will not advance the causo you advocate —a cause, for the most part, 1 am forced to agree with. The truth, of course, is not always pleasant to hear.- All the same, we should all endeavour to promote a peaceful feeling, and in my humble opinion the less bitterness displayed the better. Tho lied Feds, and Socialists are certainly misguided, even if they are not as black at heart as they are pictured. They are in a minority, and so long as the Reform Government endeavour to keep capital out of the hands of a limited few by preventing monopolies, land aggrandisement, etc., there is no danger of an industrial revolution. The moderate party with moderate capital will preserve the balance, and manhood suffrage will enable tho worker to oust from office any Government that does not take this fact into consideration. In conclusion, I have to say I voted for the Reform Party last election, and will do so again if land aggregation does not grow apace in the meantime. Their land policy will be the true test of their patriotism.—Yours, etc., FARM LABOURER.