PUBLIC WORKS DISMISSALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21198, 2 December 1930, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS DISMISSALS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Once again “ Fighter ” resumes his antagonism. Such absurd arguments I have never before seen in print. “ Fighter ” suggests that all single inen should go to the country, but I notice he fails to furnish suggestions as to where work is to be found by all of them. Let " Fighter ” remember also that a large percentage of these men have learned different trades, and therefore are not easily adapted to general farm work. They are willing to undertake work of any kind, but a farmer seldom, as a rule, employs inexperienced men. Let him peruse the Labour Bureau advertisements, and he will find that even a cowboy, earning anything- in the proximity of £l. must be an experienced milker. “ Fighter’s ” powers of observation and deduction are rather below the average. He. is apparently the possessor of a borne and of steady employment. Has he ever been in adverse circumstances? I can scarcely imagine one of his kind being out of work. Would he walk -into the country to seek work? I hardly think so, unless he belongs to that noble baud of Scots who came to colonise Otago. Evidently there were no Irishmen among our Otago pioneers—they were all Scots. Rather an insult to Irishmen! When it comes to a point of independence I consider, the Irishman unbeatable. What work i» there in the bush? “Fighter” gorgets also that the pioneers ■ of Otago

came to establish industries. How can one ■ open. up industries, with such keen competition ais at present, without a fair amount of capital? There is the old story—where are we getting the capital from? If the Government had not come to our aid in the way of supplying relief works oiir country would have become a living hell. Tf our Scottish pioneers threw themselves over the wharf I suppose ‘ Fighter”--would do the same. Let him remember there are good and bad in all nationalities. I have met a large number of loafers, many _of whom were Scots. The, public supplies the money to keep our politicians in their places, and it is the duty, of the politicians to discharge their obligations to the . best of their ability. Men who hold such views as “ Fighter ” compel us to work for starvation wages,—l am, etc.. Disgusted Navvy.