WORKERS FOR THE COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2501, 30 June 1915, Page 4

WORKERS FOR THE COUNTRY

Sir,—l read a report from your special reporter in the columns of your paper to-day concerning which as a settier and farmer since 1858 I tender a feiv remarks: (1) The favourable balance of population in the towns as against country. Thore is absolutely no tie to keep the workers in the country; they are badly housed, insufficiently paid, and nothing whatever from a social or intellectual standpoint to attract them .favourably. The young men and women are these days so well educated at the public schools and cannot' be treated as ignorant and unthinking. This is a very serious aspect of the matter, but I will 'now touch on a mord serious fact which absolutely bars the good, capable, and reliable worker. (2) l'he country wants population. The richer classes refuse to supply this crying want; if it is to be altered it must be from the workers, both men and women, who are the healthiest, most virile in every, country. The young men and women mostly want to marry, Which I consider is tho desirablo consummation of human life. Now, if they marry, what possible opportunity will they have in the country at present? Not even a bit of land; nor yet a decent house, and wages on which they cannot live, much less save for a future home. (3) Then, supposing they are married, and we will conclude they are intelligent, capable and reliable as many of our young people are. They look over tho advertisements and read this sort of thing: "Wanted, man and wife, without encumbrance." I consider this a positive insult to our vonng New Zealanders. We want population, but if they have children and I hold that is the legitimate result of voluntary and healthy marriage, they must not apply. They must be like the Eastern races, drown their offspring before they can get employment. I consider anybody wlio puts such an advertisement in tho papers should be heavily fined for insulting our New Zealand manhood and womanhood in this shameful manner. Now for the remedy: The Government should compulsorily take up small blocks of from 200 to 500 acres of good land at a reasonable (not fancy) price, wherever needed, divide it up into, say,, from 5 to 10 acre sections, build 3 or 4-roomed cottages on them and allot them to any young married people, giving them 30 or 40 years to pay for them on condition of occupation, and not transferable. Then little villages would spring, up all over New Zealand, and instead of large holdings peopled by sheep and cattle only, and often by rabbits, there would be pretty • cottages, smiling gardens, and happy children. If we want to get workers and see tho country settled we must eive our young people land,- and not belittle them and insult them by "no encumbrance" advertisements, lien, women, and children nre the glory and safety of every country, and bar the advent of alien and enemy races by the exercise of common sense and prudence.—l am, etc., ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW. A STRANGE SIGN. Sir, —There have appeared recently in your paper letters deploring the fact that the carnival is tending to a lowering of the moral tone of the community, notably as to the fostering of tho gambling spirit so strong in all of us. Sir, while not cavilling at the fun and frolic of the carnival, I would draw the attention of your readers to a notice given the utmost prominence at Eastbourne on Saturday in connection with their carnival effort. The notice which .was placed right over the wharf gates was: "Tainted money taken. Bring all you've got." Sir, is this the spirit of tho carnival? Perhaps Eastbourne can tell us exactly what was meant by that notice.—l am, etc., ONE WHO WONDERS WHERE WE ARE GETTING. Wellington, June 21, 1915. [Mr. C. A. Marquis, organiser of tho carnival, when consulted about the extraordinary term used in the sign, stated that he knew nothing about it until Sunday, and since then had been uiaablo to ascertain the motive for using such words.]