Working Men's Homes and Villages. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 44

Working Men's Homes and Villages. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— This forms the basis of a letter by Mr Samuel Vaile, of Auckland, which appeared in • youi issue of the 13th inst., and in reply I beg to say that I fail to agree with what the . writer therein seeks to prove. Passing by side issues and other irrelevant matters, I will seek to deal with the main issue — namely, as to - whether the State and local governments, by " owning the tenures of the working class, would cause that class of dwellings and dwellers known as slum 3 and serfs, or is it the individual or collective sordid selfish ownership of property which causes them everywhere to at present exist? I have visited many of the leading cities of English-speaking people nearly all over the world, and having always had the question or problem of poverty with all its kindred evils before me, have made it my business to find out all in my power as to its cause, and so far as slums are concerned, in every case I found they were either the free or leaseholds owned by the selfish capitalist, and in no cases belonging to either corporation or general Government. But Ido find that where steps have beon taken and carried out properly, as indicated by the State, it has been a boon to the worker and a gain to the corporate > body. I have not read Mr Vaile's book, which he refers to, nor do I profess to be well read on any particular subject so far as book knowledge is concerned, as I prefer to observe, think, and reason. Thus learning practical lessons from' our daily contact with life, we are the more likely to formtilate a sound and original basis io rest upon than by becoming mere bookwarms. As regards his remark that the Seddon or any other Government could use the income from such resources as working men's homes in a wasteful manner, it is no more an argument against it than is the argument that because a wasteful person is misusing the handsome income irom a well-organised business, the business must cease to be the better course to pursue. If the present or any other Government is now, or at any other time, doing or likely to do wrong, and persists in so doing, then remove them from any longer representftjg or misrepresenting the people, but do not interfere with the principle of right. Then, as regards the taking of private property, at a fair and lea-sona-ble price by the State or local body, I think Mr Vaile is some- i what oue-sided, and .inclined to look at the matter from a narrow point of view, like many others with whom I have come in contact. There is a strong element of selfishness in all mankind more or leas, which it is everyone's duty to seek to overcome, and just in proportion as we as a people overcome this, so in proportion will the world become really happy. We should, I think, ever remember that when the State takes our private landa at a fair value, it is altogether different to that of one private person seeking to attain the property of his fellow, becauso in the State doing bo, it is, or should' be, acting in the capacity of the trustee of the people, and his or her property thus taken is yet their property indirectly, as they are members of the State, and thus such an one becomes a material factor in formulating a better and purer constitution, founded on equitable justice in harmony with scientific principles and in harmony with natural laws, or God's laws. There is no real cure for the ills of life, save and except a -wise interference by the State in such a way as will regulate or adjust supply and demand. No reform which does not seek to do this will ever Temove from humanity the three monster evils which have grown so familiar to us through the false teachings oi ages that we look upon them as sent from God. I refer to poverty, crime, and disease; and I contend that it ia the duty of us as a people, by the State, to in every way seek to act bo as to foi ever remove these monster iniquities from our midst. — I am, etc.. JAS. JAMJESOJST. Wellington, July 17. - "

His cough did well nigh drive him mad) It made him thin, before so fat. He'd act that strange, he felt bo bad A That someone said he'd got a rat. He had more gens* than people thought, That's why his health is now ipcure, He'd eighteenpence, and with it boughfc A botfcla of Wcoda'a Peppermiafc Ouw,