TRUE OR FALSE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3019, 30 March 1867, Page 6

TRUE OR FALSE.

To the Editor of th« Daily Souxbxkn Cross. Sib, — On the 20th page of last week's "Weekly Nxwa there is a letter on emigration to California, by J. E. O'Donogbue. He Biys it is now six. years since he left there, and then the country was well overrun with labourers, &c. ; and then gives an Mcount of the meeting held on the 19th inst., at the Governor Browne Hotel, to consider the best means of getting to that overrun place, and said that two persons who had lived there were Called upon to Bay something in behalf of California, but, not having studied the subject, were not prepared, and, of course, did not give any account, so that much gratitude did not dwell within their bosoms for the benefits derived there. Then Mr. O'Donoghue goes on at a rattling pace in favour of that country, and afterwards makes his comparison, saying Auckland U not yet at her lowest: «bb; she will be Still lower ere «he c*n be any better (presumption). ult i», however, a well-known fact that there is at preaent a general depression felt all all over the world, and California is not free from its effects any more than Auckland ; but there is no fear of a man. who is williog and able to work, starving in the former place. lam sorry we cannot ■ay as much for the latter : we have aeen able-bodied men condemned to prison, within the last week, for not being able to find work or support themselves." Can this be true? If so, we want a remedy ; if false, then there is no dependence to be placed upon his letter. If 1 know anything concerning the depression of this country, it is chiefly owing to the Mam-mon-worship carried on by the magistrates, who grant licenses for the manufacture of poverty and CriUM— first! licensing intoxicating drinks (getting «VMm6Y), thtn fining the drinkers (getting t mor»). Are the magistrates man-catchers? do they delight in mischief? If so, are the prisons to be erected not for any good, but to allow magistrates to have their delight in ruining one of the fairest parts of God's creation? Any check upon the drinking •yatem might be money out of the pockets of a few, bat the many would reap the advantage, and be enabled to purchase and pay for enough and to spare ; and, if intoxicating drinks could be entirely banished, then we should have general prosperity; and as for working men, we should be calling for more, because the money saved from the drinking system would pay all the wages required either for romdm or bridge* or working the coal aaln«t.— l am, Ac., W. RIKJT, Pitt-itr#et, Auckland, March 23, 1807.