“SWAGGERS”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 6

“SWAGGERS”

Sir,—l have just read a book by a well-known New Zealand writer about swaggers in general and about one in particular. The author states that certain well-known business men when drinking at the bar would hold forth upon the time they carried the swag! Well, I wonder if they learned any of the “ Shiner's ” practices? I never thought of them In that way, but there may be something in it. In fact, it would not surprise me to learn that they had left the road, and that some of them had entered parliamentary circles. I feel it my duty, however, to deflate these characters. In the first place, sundowners in Australia “ waltzing their Matildas,” and swaggers in New Zealand " humping their blueys ” were somewhat akin, and many were successors of the old-time bushrangers. The practice of feeding the swagger and sending him on his way to the next station was an early form of appeasemen, as a struggling runholder or siation manager was apt to find that all Ills hay stacks were mysteriously burnt if he were to offend any of these glamorous gentry. As is noted in the book quoted there was work to be had for a good steady worker who, when given a chance, made good, and I have known many who have done so. I have foilowed the threshing mill and chaffcuiter too, in my youth and J. A. L. in his book lias my admiration if he could sew bags at over 60 per hour. By the way an extra man was usually engaged if the flow were much over 50 to carry, and stack the filled bags, and a beer soaker coujcl hardly sJand up to the work. Now what I would enjoy reading would be an account 0 f a man starting from scratch and making good by hard, steady \voik, fighting misfortune as it came; or is it that there is no glamour then’for the publisher or the song writer? I anri W h,^ ny ° f U !, e old -«me gold diggers t and SISO their stru ggles in becoming fairly prosperous farmers. As when 7)/ rn e< ? i° r a while at Waikaia had some of its wild mJ nL T Un i Uenched - What ab °ut it? As Crimea « ' remember several old Crimea and Maori war soldiers. Ask “'rwe' if i?, e knew “Bill the Packer” Goatee Charlie.” " Hellfire Jack ” and many more queer oid characters— K=hX’c,„„„, mS'YsA k ' m -