“Man’s Inhumanity.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 63, 16 March 1931, Page 7

“Man’s Inhumanity.”

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —In your issue of March 6, inst., I was interested to see a paragraph referring to a conflict between a salesman who was depressed through bad business, and a principal of a leading business house. The salesman, who like many more at the present ’ time' had had a lean time, strolled into the place mentioned and commented on the bad times, etc. He had sold nothing that day, and being down and out, it was quite natural for him to be depressed. The principal, who probablv does not know what it is to be in the* other man’s place, ordered him out. remarking that it was men like him who caused the depression, and spread it. The salesman found himself out on the landing as a result. If some of the men who treat their unfortunate fellows'in this way could only change places with them, they would look more kindly on the men who are workless. I am talking of the man who has been used to a good standard of living, and, through no fault of his own, has been driven to poverty. # Robert Burns’s poem rings true in times like these: “ Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” There are many homes where inharmonv is creeping in through the husband being out of work for long periods. A good many of these men are too proud to own up that the position is so bad. I could name one family in particular, but there are dozens. It behoves the men who are lucky enough to draw their wages every week for their own needs to think of their fellow-men, many of whom know what it is to live well, but who, through the depression, are thrown on the mercy of men who are more fortunate. A great deal more could be said on this subject.—l am. etc., WHO KNOWS.