WORTH OF AN ABLE-BODIED MAN;

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9279, 4 January 1892, Page 2

WORTH OF AN ABLE-BODIED MAN;

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,— Your Ngatitnaru Anti- Revolution- . ist condemns that portion of tho Proinior'a speech wherein he Btates Sir Ju'ius Vogol estimates an able-bodied man is worth to tho Stnto £150, and says few nowadays care to quote Yogel on questions of finance except in derision and ontempt. I expect your correspondent is comparatively a now chum. When Sir Julius Yogel, by his bold schemo of immigration and pubho works policy lifted tho incubus of stagnation and commercial doprossion which pressed on New Zealand like a nightmare, ko was hailed as the saviour of tho colony. I havo no doubt Sir Julius will live in the annals of the colony when your correspondent's namo will havo perished for ever. Sir Julius* policy was a good ono if it had been carried out in its integrity ; but, alas ! it was prostituted and used for Iwso purposes of self-aggrandisemont by those who became converts to his policy, ■ for Bollish ends. Tho Yankees estimate an able-bodied, intelligent human animal to bo worth to the State £200. Well, tho astute Yankee. 1 guess, is not far out. It is tho able-bodied men from Europe that have mado Yankoo land what it is— for wealth and dominion, *11 things considered, second to nono in tho world. Now they havo their seventy millions of people I havo no doubt they have grown a little more fastidious as to who shall crowd thoir ovor self-increasing population. Your correspondent is so satisfied with the presont state of settlement of tho colony that ho deolares nothing more is required. Eureka 1 The happy goal is leached at last, lhankß to the Liberals of New Zealand, who liberalised our land laws and made them popular. Mind you, tho boon " was wrenched from tho old Tory Government. It was demanded by the Liborals, who represented public opinion on this matter, and tho Continuous Ministry had to yield, upon peril of losing their position and emoluments of office. I apprehend good men are still required in tho colony, and would find remunerative employment, but as to the Government finding employment for Lhoso who are not tiNo to lind employment lo bo able to provide for thomselvos and tho families dependent on them, that in. my op nion is quite right. No man Bhould bo allowed to starve, or through his unprovided necessities bo driven to suicide; and while I consider it the duty of the. State to find employment for (if I may so call it) tho driftwood of society, care should bo taken that such labor is properly utilised, and only paid for according to its value to tho State. In fact, it is imperative in the interests of the public that .such employment should only bo a last resource, to prevent ablo bodied driftwood or humanity from becoming recipients of charitable aid.— l am, &c, R. Smell.

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