THE DOCTRINE OF WORK.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19485, 9 May 1933, Page 4

THE DOCTRINE OF WORK.

To the Editor of ” The Timaru Herald ” Sir, —I was very interested with Mr Burnett’s war cry of “Wake South Canterbury,” but I rather think he should have made it; “Wake Up New Zealand; Shake Off Your Shackles; Own Your Soul Again; Tell Your Creditors To Let You Have Breathing Space; Ask For Time to Reconstruct Your Industries; Primary and Otherwise.” But Mr Burnett has brought forward two very fine prospective schemes. The scheme to provide clean water for the down lands is v. very good one indeed; and it is not an experiment. It has been done in other districts with excellent results. To protect good land from rivers is the very least we can do for those w r ho come after us, whose job it will be to clear up the mess that Democracy has left to them as a heritage. Like Mr Burnett, I was reared to the doctrine of hard work, and in my youth I had instilled into me a great love for God’s Own Country. I have travelled the world all over, but to me New Zealand is still “God’s Own Country.” I fought three long years in an endeavour to help to keep this land we call home out of the hands of the German menace. We thought we won the war, but did we? If we did, what is this power that to-day is stifling us; this power that can almost squeeze blood out of a stone? Just yesterday, my post brought me one pamphlet “To Farmers,” as the farmers’ liability under the Unemployment Act. In this delightful little paper, we are told, inspectors have been appointed, and will call and assist us to make up quite a respectable income. Now, most farmers have been living in a fool’s paradise, telling themselves that as they had no income they would be exempt from the 5 per cent, unemployment tax. Alas, the inspector is on his track. Ah! I see, i some sheep skins. You kill your own i mutton; you grow potatoes too. Apples , I see. Honey, butter and eggs. How nice! He values these at town re- , tail prices, and the "Cocky” wakes up to the fact that he really did have a taxable income after all. Fancy making the cocky’s 2/6 a week help. Has to pay tax on 15/- for food and shelter. It’s absolutely ridiculous, and I hope it will be remembered against Messrs Forbes, Coates and Co. for ever and ever. And yet Mr Burnett preaches his everlasting doctrine of hard work and self help. If he could only help us to stop those who are helping themselves to our hard won profits we would have more faith in him. But when it comes to things that really would lighten our burdens, he is strangely silent. Many farmers to-day are working from daylight till dark; yet a living is denied them. “Paid too much for their land,” I hear a johnny say. In many cases, if the farmer had his land for nothing there would be no profit. Mr Burnett winds up with a true story of years ago, when men worked. My story is true, but up-to-date. The farmer in question has a six-horse team and grows mostly wheat. He rises at 4 a.m., rides his bike a mile or so to feed his horses: comes home again and milks his cows <6d per lb for butter-fat you know). He has his breakfast, takes his lunch, yokes up his six-horse team (lazy man he has a seat on his plough). At about 11 a.m. he eats his lunch, as he ploughs his three furrows. That’s where the seat comes in. At 12 he unyokes and > feeds his horses, and while they feed

lie grubs and cuts gorse, mends fences for one and a-half hours. He works his horses till half-past 5 p.m.; feeds and covers his horses; milks his cows; shifts the sheep and has tea. Then he goes to bed again till 4 a.m. The same thing every day. Did the great men of Mr Burnett's day cfo more than that? I wonder! It is not so much hard work that's wanted to-day, but hard thinking. There is no equality of sacrifice. To-day’s paper says the Bank of New Zealand pays a dividend of Hi per cent. Is any other business paying like that?—l am, etc., NIL DESPERANDUM.