LABOUR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10566, 28 January 1895, Page 3

LABOUR.

TO THE EDITOR.’ Sir, —As those who aro idle and those who are non-productivoly industrious must all live upon those who are productively industrious, I crave a small space in your journal for deliberation upon this matter. Why is journalism dumb and almost closed against workmen upon this matter ? Because they do not wish to offend existing interests. If existing interests should’ wake up some fine morning and find themselves on tho same footing as tho American difficulty, viz., shooting down industrious people for lawlessness, tho outcome of enforced idleness and connequenb starvation, the masses will then cry, why did our people not take timely warning, and avert such a disgraceful culmination upon humanity ? Mr Smith, tho member, last night stated, although it formed no part of his address to the people, that he considered it was tho duty of the Government to see that there were no unemployed people who aro willing to work. Now, pauperism means a great deal. It means in some death, in others stealth, in others begging. It certainly means virtue under no circumstances, unless under those where people render themselves poor in the interest of their unfortunate fellow-creatures. Such people, I apprehend, will be few in number, and will not weigh much in tho case of majorities. The masses will ba reduced to pauperism chiefly through conditions over which they have no control, viz., unequal opportunities. So far as living ia extreme excesses ia concerned, that is a very large and open, question. Tho moment a man ia rendered moneyless or friendless he is charged with excesses and dissipation, even if his excess consisted of only using tobacco. As Mr Smith has stated that he considers it is the duty of the governing powers to see that there are no unemployed that are willing to work, I think we may safely conclude that he will not only give his word but also his heart and zeal ia that cause. I think butchers, bakers and storekeepers, &0., are beginning tq find out that idle people, however honest they may bo, aro not payable customers. That being the case, I think w© may safely conclude that they will support the cry of the working classes. Let them be nationally employed in public usefulness, producing wealth for the people to use.—l am, &e., *JOHN ANDERSON,