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Star (Christchurch), Issue 4927, 17 April 1894, Page 3

The following letter appeared in this morning's Lyttelton Times :— Swaggers and Runholders. TO THE BDITOB. Sir,— Not wishing to crowd out more interesting matter, 1 pen these few lines simply wishing to show one cause why there are so many out of work at present. Like many more I had a bad grase-Beed harvest, but I thought that I might get work from some of the Amuri wool kings. Knowing the district pretty well, I made tracks a fortnight ago. The first station I called at the usual answer— no work and only four men employed. The runholder has 30,000 sheep and little or no improvement. The next run, where if you have not got a shilling you may starve, there was no show of work, and only six men are employed. In fact, with the exception of Horsley Downs, all the runs I called at are discharging hands, and some tell you that we (the working men) deserve the cold Bhoulder for voting for Liberals who wish to take away the squatters' land. Now I consider that if these sheep-farmers were taxed according to their acreage, in fairness they should pay enough to support one man for eveiy thousand acres, and I know for a fact that many men are determined to seek town and starve here rather than wear their hearts out plodding through the country. Hoping you may put in a word for the muchabused swagger.— l am, &c, PAIR PLAY.