THE HARD BATTLE OF LIFE MADE HARDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 June 1927, Page 7

THE HARD BATTLE OF LIFE MADE HARDER

(To tho Editor)

Sir, 1 read with feelings of mild amusement Mr Justice Frazer’s observations directed towards that indolent apprentice in (lie employ of the Patent Flip Company of Wellington And whilst amusing—Hia Honour’s remarks are alio significant. Even the A. and C. Court is beginning, it would seem, to wake up to the effects of its own mischievous activities in the past. That lad is by no means a fool, nor is lie to blame. Not, a bit. He takes the. view he lias been trained by the Court to believe as tile only correct and proper one ns regards his attitude towards bis so-called "employer." 'lire lad knows, as every lad knows who is working under the Court and its award, that bis relations and his obligations towards his employer are practically nil. His employer is merely the ornamental figure bead who lias got fo find him bis wages every week—arid who- lias furthermore got to closely observe the conditions laid down by (be Court of Arbitration. And in all this 1 am more concerned for the Biture of the employee himself than I am for that of the employer. We are on (be road to social ruin, and I have not arrived hastily at the cnnsidcftul conelusion that the- whole, workings of tho Court are in the true interests of neither the .man ’who-(receives the wagqs nor'llio man who pays them. The whole oincome is degrading, demoralising and destructive. alike to employee and employer. Belated railings of this character will have no weight- on reflective minds. I bey are not “logical.” Place the blame on tlio right .shoulders. Think it out for yourself and see where it leads.

I am pleased to bear that some effort is being made in Nelson to find suitable imiles for boys leaving school, and it, is a pity siieli efforts are not more widely known. VV'e spend millions of pounds on education every year. This education is supposed to lit, us for the battle of life. As things are as they are, it. is not a help. It. is a, hindrance. It gives us false notions, anil leaves I be. Jails at I heir most vital stage either to starve, nr to degenerate into aimless loafers, or at best casual workers or else criminals. At school a boy is watched and trained most carefully. .He may not absent himself from school for even one halfday without enquiry as to the cause. lie is a tender hothouse plant, for that particular period of bis existence. And at ibe close of bis school career be is quite often dumped out on to the middle of a dismal and desolate mud flat, and told to shift for himself. He is often separated by cruel barbed wire entanglements from the very means of securing for himself an honourable livelihood, or of even learning a trade. The money we spend on education is thus largely worse than wasted. Better if we had less education. In one sense we are overeducated. What’s tho good of education if you can't get something to. back it up? Instead of a blessing it is a curse —a curse some of us are destined to carry with us through life. Without education wo could be of some real use. If should not bo so very difficult, to find out wliat class of calling a boy would like to follow, arid lo fitiTl that out 18 months or so before be, leaves school, and to work on that chiefly during bis later months of learning. Most boys know what they would like to-be; give them a chance. But all the chances in the -world will be of little avail whilst you have a court of the character of the Arbitration Court to contend with—a superior power coming betwixt master ahd man. Fancy a superior power coming betwixt master and pupil at school; a superior power coming betwixt the Postmaster-General and bis staff of faithful servants throughout the country ; a superior power coming betwixt the. Commissioner of Police and his men both north and south. What sort of service in any of these departments do you think yon would get? Don’t you think the effects would he degrading, demoralising, and destructive? t do. I am, etc., CRITIC. Nelson, 10th June