"GOVERNMENT STROKE."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 420, 1 February 1909, Page 2

"GOVERNMENT STROKE."

Sir,—The colony is indeed deeply indebted to Ml'. Konayne for his courage in disclosing the lax ways pertaining among Government so-called "workers." It may well bo called the "Seddonian" stroke.- > But one need not travel to Addington yardsto: see samples of loafing.. It' is everywhere from far North Cape to furthest point south,, and each year it is growing worse. In conversation. with large employers of labour in difparts of the colony I hear-the'same tale of loss .attention to employers' interests,, less work, indifferently-done work, and waste of material and time by loafing. And can.it be otherwise when the good workmen receive but tho'samo reward as the loafer and. the tired man? There are plenty of good, honest, capable tradesmen among tfie wage receivera, but their mates compel them to fall .into line with the Governmerit'stroke, Were .they not ,to do, so,, their.lives would not be .-worth " v yg.., .-Richard •Seddon was placed in power and kept there by tho votes of the trades' unions. It was. but small wonder, under the circumstances, that! ho legislated for the benefit of one class, only,, at the expense, of the .other, and yet the .wage receivers - are mora, discontented to-day. than they havo ever been, The. labour, unions and preference to unionists are run for. the benefit ,of loafers' tired men. Seddonisiri has destroyed the independence,. manliness, and self-reliance of' tho men. -Twenty years 'ago;, when men re--ceiyed less than half what, is gften to-day, thev. put in a 1 good honest day's work, and took a pride andean intelligent l 'interest in their work, and would have scorned to receive charitable doles in the shape of "payment for holidays, eto. Bnt there were men in those days, not mere units .of trade unions, skulkers, shirkers; _ Trusting a' better state of things will obtain in the near am, etc.,. '. : . ■ , ■ ■ ■■ I \ - PRACTICAL.