FOOLING THE PEOPLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 416, 14 June 1913, Page 6

FOOLING THE PEOPLE.

H.M.S. New Zealand at the Wharf. No Pickings for the Ferry Co. this Trip On Wednesday afternoon last, Joe Ward's gift to the Mammalaiicl — our Dreadnought— steamed once more into Wellington's harfopr. On this occasion there was no display of .bunting, no stately procession -of shipssave the mgrk !— to mark' the occasion. Our battleship came on an ordinary business visit. All, sentiment had vanished. Coal and other- utilitarian supplies w-as her mission. But ] why come up to the wharf ? '-On the last . occasion it was loudly announced by the Harbor Board -authorities that all arrangements 1 had beeirinaclev for berthingrrher.fi.. Thevpeople v; , " 'ANTICIPATED .; THE '; piiEASURE of viewing andVinspect3ng\-tl*eir own with little inconvenience '■'' to themselves. Suddenly the "intimation was given that she would- iiot come to the wharf. Rumor whispered various' reasons — the • dislocation of local shipping— the temptations to the brave Jack Tars— the nearness of the Pier Hotel— the danger. ":,6f men deserting, attracted by the charms of a . region where living was , so cheap and rents so low, and where there I were fourpenny bars, and , so on. People saw their treasured defender lying, m the stream, and wondered how they were going to reach her. It was whispered that the Reform Government, m its anxiety for the welfare of the worker, and m order to give him another "square deal," was .going to run the Tutanekai, tha Hinemoa, the Janie Seddon, and the Amokura, and convey passengers, to-and-fro,- free of charge. No such luck — the rumor was without foundation ! Next morning it wjas known, that the Ferry Co. would take on the job, m its eagerness to show loyalty to the' Empire and the British flag — Is return, and no halffares for- .children. Hence,, a father, his wife and foxir children, wishing TO SEE THE "FAMILY'S" SHIP, and living m Newtown, would have to pay 2s for, tram fares, Os for ferry fares, beer for himself and tea for the wife and kids— in all say 10s. Gee whizz !— what chance the casual laborer. Bob Fletcher, the democratic chair- j man of the Harbor Board, the

Do not lake him for a parson, an hobo or a sleuth, Because this cheerful person is by name A. R Booth — Was once a rep. footballer m Wet and Windy, and up North — But now he loudly barracks as Wairarapa marches forth.

people's curly-headetl boy, might vouchsafe a word or two on the position. It would be interesting U> know what the Ferry Co. netted. "Cambist" ought to get hold of its next balance-sheet.