PARADOXICAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4193, 7 June 1939, Page 6

PARADOXICAL

THE MAORI VIEWPOINT. The present position of the town’s affairs has caused interest in them to be taken by “the Man in the Street,” who, though not claiming to be a modern Socrates, can occasionally put a vein of logic into his queries. For instance, every supporter and non-supporter of the Labour Government has been informed that the foundation of its policy is to prevent exploitation of labour for profit. From this as its basic principle the Labour movement had its origin and to it, its expressed purpose, is to adhere. This is quite understandable and easily recognised by its good intention, but now comes the point, as raised by Ruru, a casual acquaintance, “Two Town Board members he have to resign, eh? What for? They do y the work alright and the labour, make ' the good road, too. What for they must resign?” “Because, Ruru, they have been receiving profit for the work they have been doing—or exploiting, as it is often termed.” Ruru stood silent a space, deep in thought, and then said: “My word, that hard to know what the Government mean. The road there now all the time for the lorry and the motor car and the cow; that I think the profit, but the .Board members they not get it. If there when those fellows komati, who they exploit as you say, anyway? I learn one time profit exploit labour, and Labour Government say that no good, now labour start to exploit profit the Government say that no good too.” Ruru was called away, saying something in his native tongue that sounded like “pakeha” or “pourangi” or both. In the recesses of the mind may exist an elucidation but it is un- | reachable yet.