UNEMPLOYMENT AND PLEASURE.

Evening Star, Issue 19855, 2 May 1928, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT AND PLEASURE.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,—l would like to enlighten “M.” if possible as to a lew iacts in a workers’ budget from personal history. First of alt the Arbitration Court is founded on the last of a serieswhich a humorous cynic described as figures, statistics, and lies. In the first place it allows for a family ol lour, where the average allowed in all countries is 5, the parents and three children; in the second place it goes on the assumption of a weekly rent of 12s (id. Well, I have been foolish or wicked enough to bo the father of three. 1 don’t know what like the inside of an hotel is. being a life-long teetotaler. I never saw a race, and don’t want to. 1 have seen two football matches and got “ fed up,” as I didn’t take a book to read. Now, after extolling my virtues, let mo humbly confess my numerous faults. First, since I demobilised in February, 1919, I was tempted lo go on the “ razzlo ” on Saturday night, when the wife was in the Karitano Home with the first born, so I went to the pictures, and for my sin got “fed up” again. 1 also went four times to the Exhibition, and enjoyed it very much. In passing 1 may say 1 gave “ chocolate alloy ” a miss; it did not appeal to me. lam also guilty of spending per week Is 5d for tobacco; though a “ Homey,” patriotic to the land of my adoption, Riverhead, New Zealand made for me; twopence for tissues. What a riotous life! Makes one feel quite a young blood again. Now to come back to figures. IVages £4 2s Cd per week; ten days’ holiday, no pay, not being a Civil servant. A greedy corporation wants this year about £8 10s, ray contribution to the new town hall to entertain Rotary visitors, etc., mayhap oven such an illustrious guest ns Harry Lauder, but neither you, my friend “51.,” nor I will be there. Life insurance £4 11s. Fire insurance £1 4s 4d, club payment £1 2s, instalment on bouse £1 per week, so the grocer gets it little by little and bit by bit, as the song used to say, and just as I meet up on him along comes Easter with nearly another week off, and then about a week later along comes Anzac Day. No, my dear “ M.,” there are 101 items the court doesn’t take into consideration, not even the bawbee for the kirk plate, and having a wee bit Scotch indpendence, and having lost a soul somewhere round Scapa Flow 1 stay away, as 1 don’t want benefits for which I am unable to pay. There is one thing I can say: poverty sharpens the wits. When the wife’s birthday comes round I get in first and say “Many happy returns, and what are you getting me on my birthday?” When Joan says, “Daddy, when are you getting my pram?” well, I just swallow a. lump and go for a long walk and think of homes for heroes and glib politicians, and, to, crown all, after sacrificing two lives, one has the knowledge that his boys will bo the butt for a drill sergeant’s stale jokes, and perhaps by that time we shall have advanced so far that Joan will have to render personal service in W.A.A.C.’s.—I am, etc., C. S. MacArthur. May 2.