Labour Affairs, Socialism, Etc. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 64

Labour Affairs, Socialism, Etc. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — I notice that Mr Henry, of Westport, has again favoured me with a somewhat lengthy letter. I might say that I have been, in this district only a little more than a year. I wrote mostly of what I have seen in previous years. Lot it be cleanly ~ and distinctly uxtciierebood that I am not in favour of crushing down the worker, as Mr Henry is at so much pains to imply. One of my earliest reading lessons was a speech in the British House of Commons in favour of free and compulsory educatior for the masses, in which it was clearly shown that the pride and hope of a nation was in the welfare of its workers. One 'speaker said that if the workers weTe educated, there would* be no more revolutions or riot* ; they would have tlhe intelligence to better their conditions themselves. And the lot of the British worker has vastly improved during the last 50 years. It seems to me that in, order to gain points Mr Henry distorts some of my facts, and, whether -wilfully or not I am unable to say, takes altogether a wropg meaning out of some of my remarks. Thw Yorks Reform Association cannot provide work for the workless, or raise the wa>ges to a higher rate, but it dbea do the best he can under existing circumstances. It teaches the British worker to do the best it can under existing circumstances. Something tangible is wanted in the meantime. Possibly on draiwing up a. tariff showing how a couple and their four children could Jive on 12s 9d> a week th© Yorks Reform Association did not lay down a hard-and-fast rule. This bill of fare could be .modified according to circumstances, and in the hands of enlightened people. Its usefulness received! unexpected l confirmation last week, when a Daily Times reporter interviewed the Rev. Mr King, who conducts a shelter for the homeless in Filleul street, Dunedin, when it was explained that many women worked in factories, fund when they got homes of their own were altogether unequal to the task of running 1 them and keeping them in order, and too often the ultimate result was wife desertion. I am sorry I (have no time to relate a couple of little anecdotes illustrating this point. When thi9 gentleman in Wesfcport dtecries •thrift and economy, and. speaks eneexingly of workers who have saved up their cash with the view of bettering their condition. I cannot let the opportunity' pass by of making a protest. I repeat, this is the evil spirit that has ruined many a young fellow in country places. This evil epirit inspires him to "outrun the constable, and he is over head and ears in debt before he knows where he is. This evil spirit of decrying thrift amid' economy ie the ©pint that inspired; the tradesman in the backcountry to say that "the man from London was very miserable. He lived in the place 18 months, and' no one ever blew the foam off hia beer." Comment is needless. Everyone in thia country ie venry largely interested in the welfare of the British worker, and wishes him well, with regular work and good wages. Then his purchasing 1 aod consuming- powers are ia-

J creased, «tnd our exports aire then easiljf I increased) in value by a million or co. This j is the substance of the Hon. Thos. Mac- ! kenzde's remaxiks when bs opened the Duni edin winter show. And he went into figures to prove hit Temarks. Mr Hesniry's remarks on Colonel Ingersoll'a six workers are unique. He says when they spend their all in the country they are- of more value to it and the people, and more unselfish than 12 men who hoard 1 up money to gratify tiheir passion for power and posii> tion. My remarks implied that these six men spent their ail «n beer and» billiards and cigars, and then tbe grotesque absurdity of Mr Henry's remarks are quite apparent, and leads us ail to discount h>a remarks enormously. The tragedy of tlhese spendthrift six workers « in the book-*, ground, for nothing is said about the. desolate home and half -clod women and ohikkea who are 'efietn somewhtsare in tdie background, rendered so when the brcadwiinmar wastes his money in this manner. Mr Henry seems to delight in- -making sneering? j and disparaging remarks about everyone who is just above tbe labour market, and I must protest against the remarks ' against the good and • industrious men who rose from h?ing a worker and made this country what it >S. " They spent their -'money in., deveJoping it, and increased their " wealth,- , which they put in circulation, and bene* fited others more or less -who handled pori tions of it. I have .had hhe* misfortune to meet sun&ry amateur laboui_ agitators. They only noirobered tfc-ree or four, ' I am - pleased to say. They wore always working mischief. They were very indifferent workers, and they had v»ov »o conscientious principles, and seemed to be always thinking how could pemst on their employer. If they owed a pound or two, they would not pay it it they could hip it. Most likely if a tradesman gave them a little credit to tide them over a bad time, ho might have some trouble in getting payment, especially »if they had t<> pass an- hotel before they reached him*. What I maintain ia that it is advisable for the workers to save up their money with the view of bettering ttreir condition. X they spend it, then spend it wisely, and seldom or never pay 6d for sometflring liquid that costs Id. It cannot get into some business or on some land, they can at least buy a house or build one for themselves, and some furniture. When *, worker i« ma/Tried" it takes him all hi» time to keep floating. It is when he is single that he" requires to improve fchisf shining hour. When he is married and har a family he ' has a heroic struggle, which is greater because of his thriitleseness when he was single. One of these I know came to a country ball one night, ancV epenfc £10 asking his friends what they would haye — 'setting the hoys up," as th& Yankee says. He took soft drinks nearly all thetime himsedf . « When he afterwards • went wooing, be brought 'the lady a five-shilling bottie of- scent, and- feer aunt considered^ this as sems&less exit-ra-vagtfhoe -for a man. in his line of life, and' recommended the girl to take the middle-aged butcher; he would bring her round a pound or two ofi steak, which would be more sensible and practical, and providla her with. _a hoaoe.< But the other man got the. prize, and 1 theyi botih wasted and frittered away the find worldly chance that a friend : gave them, and they have boen continually dodging* creditors for 25 years past. What I maintain is that the worker shouldi endeavour by his own efforts to rise above his position, and to improve his worldly knowledge and education. I do not mean him to be a miser, but to spend his money rationally, amd save up something for himself. It will be wanted sonre- day, and- if he is a sensible, long-headed man, he miphfe be able to spend it so as to render his ! declining years easy and comfortable and! entirely free from care and worry. If he does experience a little privation at first, then 'be wrJl have his reward. The re-cently-published sketch of the lite of Mr i Robert Bla-tehiord, the- high priest of ! Socialism, shows how, as & soldier, ' tie | rose above it by cultivating himself. If I am wrong in these hopes, then I ami erring with hosts of #ood company, ot which just a few might be mentioned. There's the late philanthropic Earl of Shaftesbury. General Booth and the whole Salvation Army, Dr Grenfellj of Labrador; the hosts of benevolent societies, and the late Sir George Williams, the president of the biggest association. His first start in philanthropic work* was to induce a factory worker to stop drinking and give him his money to keep till a pound or two was saved up. Then h« got him washed 1 , cleaned, tidied up,- and into a new suit of clothes, and stood him before a big mirror. The man was amazed, almost *right«nea\ ,et the sight. "Is that me, George?" he whispered.. Then, in his quaint 'Quaker idiom, which I forget, Geonre said -that was so, and gave him 16s to take home to the wife, and wenf home with him, amd gave her the money, and she cried and said that was the most he had brought home for 16 years. I knew an aged single man who died aged 83, who lived on an annuity of £1 a week for about 15 years, the result of saving eundrv hundreds of pounds during the preceding 10 to 15 years whilei he was engaged shephfirding. He had a nice little three-roomed house andi out* buildings, with a fence round the whole. Hie habits were methodical. He had two meals a day. He was able to go to Dunedin every year, and have a couple of little sprees besides, and he alwayr had a laugh' and a cheery word for everyone as he took his! dailly walk round. Everyone w«j» sorry when "Old George" died. I have only half done, but I must draw to & close, as I am just on the eve of about 10 days' travelling, and I am very busy besides. — I am, etc., Youh Table Hill Correspondent. November 14-.

An Auckland message states that «om«, time ago Mr T. Gresham. city coroner, introduced to the Liberal and Labour. Federation a scheme on which he is very, keen— the establishment of a foundling hospital at Auckland. The federation took' the matter up, and wrote letters to the Government advocating the scheme. To this the Ministers gave the usual diplomatic reply. " that . the matter would be kept steadily in view." 'Phis did not satisfy Mr Greshain, and he has raised the matter again. He asserts that unwanted infante are being made away with, show* ing how necessary a foundling hospital vs. The matter will be further considered by, the executive of the federation..