Notes to Henry

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 301, 6 December 1922, Page 14

Notes to Henry

Dear Heniy—l am no prophet, but so full of hope that it amounts to J -same thing. Our\Labour movement embodies such a live, healthy ambition that ultimately it: simply must reach it's fulfilment, in spite of all the petty antagonism and pitiful ignorance that abound. 1 believe that within a few days you will take your stand las never before, and join with us in one more effort to make life a little - more tolerable to the bottom dog. You may be that particular dog yourself, or you may not; you may even thinfc 't you are the beast on-top, but the fact ' that you get the.- picked bone and the falling crumbs remains a grim"" real* ity. It has keen growing so real that you are taking notice, and that determination to vote labour Is the outcome of your personal feelings, rather than any great educative result of I -your own observation and thoughtful- I ness. 1 would rather that your help J 'were prompted by a deeper feeling, or \J a wider vision, but such as it is, there I is a welcome waiting for the help it 1 may render to many more deserving I than you. . I : It is good to.be able" to put yomseif I in another's place and feel his pains, I and bear his troubles. That method is I simple and leads to unselfish acts that 1 makes smooth many a rough road for I the weary. A rich old lady was driv- I ing home one cold day. The snow I was deep and the wind keen. Nearing fi the gates she saw S? e gang of men dig- If glng a drain by the roadside, "dk, U Mary," she said to her maid, "those B poor men, they must be freezing. As m soon as you get home make hot tea ana I send it out to them." She shivered i and sank, further down In the rugs. 1 Arrived lionie, Mary soon had the old I girl tucked in before a glowing fire, I witli hot coffee and toast handy. She I ■then felt like herself again, and re- I marked, "Never mind the tea for the :| men, Mary; it is not_so cold, after all." I It Is much easier to feel the pain I of your own cut finger than the agony I of the other chap's broken leg. The.l: forced : economy of a worker's home 1 Is only felt when it reaches your I borne. Thousands may have their wages reduced till meal time becomes a tragedy and you only know it in a vague, uncertain .way. But -nr.hen ynus home is one of .them, then you realise exactly the position of; so many others. It's coming, Henry, and if you hare ' not met it yet, be sure your turn will I arrive, . ■ IYou "have-often, heard Bill Massey I mention that we are staggering unae? . a burden. You naturally think that burden is the providing of houses,! food, clothing, education, or work aniT . things like that. Nothing of the kind,; The. burden Bill-means is interest on our public debt. Bill's job is to find; the money, and Bill's infatuation B" that the bottom dog must pay. Inter* est is Hie one and only thing that worries Bill; that Is the pressing necessity, the summit of Bill's statesman*! ship. And you must pay. I liven the fairy financier from! Franklin cannot get blood out of a I stone, so your wages must be reduc-l cd —for interest; and then will com? I longer kours —for Interest. clothes, homes, health and the child*■ ren's education,- can all go to hell till I the maw of interest is gorged. The I seamen, the shearers, the tradesmen,! to-day; you ' to-morrow:. It mat tori I not what sort of worker you aiftl when you can get it, whether you aiel a plumber or n. porter, a postman, orl a pick-and-shovel artist--you will afll catch the sains levelling down wages, and, after the elections, ih'B same levelling up of hours- I Be sure, the genial Bill will uoleslap his moneyed friends on the bane account, not while you remain suffiß cisntly' meek to enable the Refornßbludgeon to thud its way to your pajß- 1 envelope: Interest must be prompts paid in full though the heavens fallM- ~ and you go hungry. Reject meaiß shoddy clothes and a home in roofflß s may be your shaj-e now, but glflfi anti-Labour the lead next week, asfl your address will soon be the doofßstep, and your dining-room the du^B' It lays with you, Henry, to.jtuW|-" Labour by its deeds, and not by &m' •words of other people. Thousands Oβ your mates are loyal and. enthusiast! workers for the policy of Labour, aw never once change once the S re 4. ideals are understood, The &>*•• grows longer every year, every &ww Labour candidates are defeated, Wβ even In defeat they liavo laid ti» foundations o£ success to come. J If there Is a Labour candidate W your electorate,' vote for him, Keyef - mind if you don't like the look of 1»4; A drowning man does not footWJ' about whether his rescuer is toed; and the head-serang of J^^ ol ]!" does not bother . about your sllw looks when he wants, youf-vote—njp -- ther does he pay out when you pJV: , the wrong card; Prosperity is comlwc Henry. Try and muster up courage to- claim your share. Am& tie wisdom on-voting day will P o e|.' ,the t way,—J.R.Q. - mm-C:;