“TWENTY YEARS OLD”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 7

“TWENTY YEARS OLD”

zo rue EDITOH. Sir,—Here is the nature of not one isolated interview that took place during the last few days, but a fair sample of many such meetings. " Well, my lad, I really think you would suit us admirably; you look strong, intelligent, and you have an honest face, and, after reading these excellent testimonials of yours, I am sure you would prove a worthy servant, but then you see in a year's time we would have to pay you the full wage, for you say you are now 20." "Yes, sir, but I would do my very best to make myself worth the full wage, and if you should find out that I am not worth that money, then pay me according to my ability or according to the value of the work I do; I would be satisfied." "That's a sensible idea, my lad, but you must remember the Government forbids the exercise of common sense." The lad had heard it all before, and looked a little disconsolate, but begged that, if he could only get a start, he would devote the whole of his energies to making himself worth the money the Government stipulates he must £et No, he is 20 and the door is shut. He can now go on to the Public Works, or go to the country. He knows the country, the same lad, for from the time he was 10 he rose early, milked the cows and gave a hand with other farm work, irrigating in summer and feeding in winter, then a rush off to school. Little wonder he came down in his " matric." Since then he has worked as a man, on farm, in mine, and developed the strength of a bullock, but for family reasons and a removal to the city he is now anxious to help in the rehabilitation of a desolated home.

He asks why should a despotic Government, because he is 20, say to him, "Boy, you may have ambition, you may be fitted for commerce, or industry, but. you see, you have the misfortune to be 20 and therefore the best place for you is the country. You can go to a farm, and as lone as you can fence, you can do all the farmer wants you to, and you'll get £1 a week and be found, but you certainly cannot work in any factory, warehouse, or place of business for anything like that money, for, my lad, don't you see we are a Labour Government, and our aim is to disrupt—yes, even bankrupt—business, so that eventually it may be socialised. Twenty, yes 20, with the whole of life before him, and what will his country do for him? The boy knows full well what his father did for his country, but then his father was a day or two more than 20 in those days. I thought of writing an advertisement for him, but then he said, "What's the use? You see I'm 20, and in a year I'll be 21, and the business people all seem frightened of the Labour Department; they say, it's full of ' pimps '. There he stands, a lad of 20, on the threshold of life; his schoolmaster recommends him, for his diligence and honesty; he led the school Rugby team to victory time and again; a small cup testifies to his prowess on the field of sport, his past employers recommend him for his industry, common gumption, and intelligence, and a mineowner testifies to his ability to "keep his own counsel." Farmers in the district where he worked know him for a worker and offer employment—oh, yes, just the usual farm duties, and £ 1 per week and keep, and in one case, u because he is a really good worker and conscientious, 30 bob a week and found." Twenty, but the door of industry is closed. Can anyone tell me why I was so insane as to vote Labour? —I am, etc., Never Again.