UNEMPLOYMENT AND PLEASURE.

Evening Star, Issue 19840, 13 April 1928, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT AND PLEASURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The obsession of roar correspom dent “ M.” concerning his alleged solution of tho unemployed problem by the curtailment of ordinary pleasures ol the people more than surprises me. Does he really mean to state that if wo cut out gambling, drinking, motor cars, pictures, and so on all would come right as regards unemployment? There never was a greater fallacy. If wc dispensed with the absurd competitive social system that makes for unemployment, war, misery, and all-round injustice to millions of well-meaning human beings on this earth, wo would be getting nearer to a solution of those troubles, hut to dispense with the pleasures of the people would not help matters one iota: in fact, the reverse, as recreation and pleasure act as an antidote against everyday troubles and vexations of the people’s lives, and to desire and to have pleasure in simply putting into action a natural law of life. To he always whining and looking on tho black side of life actually attracts misery to ns, and tin's 1 can prove scientifically; the human mind acts as a, magnet to attract certain conditions of life to human beings. “M.” asks if T spend money on pleasure for the purpose of. providing work and employment for others, f might state that I am not a benevolent institution, but seek pleasure because it is a natural desire, and my tastes in that line lead to music, flowers, pictures, boxing, and the ioys of flic ballroom and company of the fair sex, including blonds and brunettes, old and young—■in fact, all forms of reasonable pleasure, including going to carnivals ; but if we stop all these pleasures we shall not stop unemployment. “M.” blames the people instead of Ihe Government and our awful social system for unemployment, but he is surely not of the working class, and is unaware of the Tittle tragedies in the life of the worker when 'unemployment conics, and there is little in the cupboard but space and atmosphere. Visitors are welcome in good times, hut dreaded when things are bad. so when a knock comes to the door one is compelled to keep dead quiet and pretend to bo out, or maybe peep out of the closed window blinds to see if it is the postman. landlord, or somebody who owes one money, and if visiters or the landlord it is a relief to hear them taking their departure. “M.” and the writer of this will have to agree to differ on this subject, as we have had a fair run ■to express our views on it.—l am. etc., April 13. A.P.