IDLENESS AND LEISURE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21728, 10 March 1936, Page 6

IDLENESS AND LEISURE

I TO TBI EDITOR OT THK FBXBS'. ■ . Sir,—Just as the ierms work and slavery need defining and have been defined by acts of Parliament in regard to industrial workers, is there the need for defining the terms leisure and idleness. ~. .„",_. Work is ennobling—is the basis of life and happiness, whilst slavery is debasing and soul-destroying. Where 1 the conditions and hours of labour are benignly regulative—in factories and most offices, some farms, and many homes, work is a joy and purpose of existence. However, there are numerous instances where conditions of slavery exist. On many farms the con'ditions are abominable. In dairying districts has grown up a system of child-slavery that is a blot on our civilisation. Children toiling from early morn in the milking sheds go to school only to fall asleep at their desks. In domestic circles, too, often are there evidences of slavery, which perhaps explains the unwillingness of girls to accept situations as domestic employees whilst there are opportunities to go to an office or factory. Not only are the servants condemned to slavery, but there is probably a larger proportion of housewives and daughters who have to suffer a dreary term of bondage under an exacting husband or unreasonable parents. By a regulation of the hours of employees on farms and in domestic service, our present Parliament can do much to put an end to such conditions, and bring' about an enlightened conscience. But it is in regard to the terms leisure and idleness that so much wrong thinking exists. To the average club man leisure is for the rich; idleness is the curse of the poor. There is no room for any other belief ,within the scope of such a personality. What hope is there for the mentality of this community if this were to be the national outlook—one law for the rich, one for the poor? ' Fortunately the nation thinks otherwise. Mr Poison, of the Farmers' Union, in remarks at Wellington last week, heralded the advent of the Labour party to power, as a social revolution. And so it is—not only a change of masters, but a change of ethical values. Abolishing slavery, but finding work, destroying the idleness of the rich, restoring leisure to the poor, restraining by law the greedy soul of man. Whatever mistakes the present administration may make, whatever little blunders they may be guilty of, if they are able to accomplish these four things, find work and abolish slavery, abolish idleness and restore leisure, they shall be fit to rank amongst the greatest sons of man.— Yours, etc., •K. March 9, 1936.