SCHOOL BOOKS.

Evening Star, Issue 19175, 16 February 1926, Page 3

SCHOOL BOOKS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Your correspondent, “ One of the Workers,’ has mipsed the chief point of the letters of “ Mother of Six ” and myself, which was free school hooks, and not charity, as he seems to think. As for the “ dole,” as he sarcastically tonus the money paid to foster parents, I fail to see in what respect it has done harm. It has not stopped the wheels of industry, and it would bo interesting to know just how much is paid by the Government for the above purpose each year. The whole trouble seems to bo that “ One of the Workers ” has entered into a discussion which ho does not understand. No one has asked the Government to keep our children —all that is wanted is the chance to do justice to them; and that is not possible. with things as they are just now. Wages are certainly higher than they have over been, hut house rents alone are 100 per cent, above the normal rates, and as for living conditions being better, the man with a family has almost to go on his bonded knees to be allowed to pay an exorbitant rent for some dilapidated shanty scarcely fit for human habitation. He must swear by all that is holy to do the place up and make it fit to live in, so that the nest tenant may he charged another os for it. Ho has no possible chance of getting a house with the conveniences which a mother of a family should have. As for every' working man driving about in his own car, I am insulted to think that T am expected to believe such unadulterated piffle. Surely your correspondent does not expect that to he taken seriously. There must bo nothing but extravagant .working people in Dunedin, tor very few of them can drive about in cars, nor have many of them substantial banking accounts, although hundreds—nay, thousands—of them are thrifty, and cannot find a shilling for pleasure, their only outing being to town on Friday to see what they would buy if they had the money. I venture to say that “ One of the Workers ” is not struggling to rear six children —• that is, feed and clothe them properly •—keep bis wife and himself respeefc-

nMy (not extravagantly) clothed on £4 per week, out of whiobi £1 has to go for rent, Ho must remember the huudred-ancl-one incidental expenses which occur when tliore is a young family to be oared for. Of course, we could all have lots of things if we did not pay our way. 1 think the first essential of good citizenship consists of paying cash for all purchases. [ do this; consequently cannot afford to buy the motor car in which I should bo driving about like some Rothschild. “ Ono of the , Workers ” does not state how manv children he has, nor how much he keeps them on, and if ho is genuine I call on him to publish in your journal his weekly budget, by which he is able to own a motor car and have the substantial banking account which lie says all the workers should have. We find we cannot even got a shilling to spend at the Exhibition, let alone buy a car, and I do not deprive my wife of any money, being neither a drinker nor a gambler, and no one could by any moans say that we dress extravagantly. If yonv correspondent can do what I ask of him, he must ho a veritable “ wizard of finance,” and should no longer ho ‘■‘One of the Workers,” but go up into the House and bo appointed Minister of Finance. Ho would save the country millions, ami could give all the mothers of the country the maternal endowment to which they are entitled. The Government thinks that a certain section of the community should have an extra allowance; so why not treat them all alike? I will watch closely for “ One of the Workers’ ” financial statement, and should it he practicable [ will he eternally grateful, and will no longer sign myself Tired of Strugcung. February 13.