THE ESSAYIST.

Waipawa Mail, Volume X, Issue 1016, 30 November 1886, Page 4

THE ESSAYIST.

Bread or Work-

[an open column.]

The offer of Garrard, the Auckland agitator, to head a procession with the cry- of “ Bread or Work” must give food for reflection to many a thinking man. Although no response came from Garrard’s co-agi-tators, still, anyone who has noted the progress of events in the colonies during the last ten years, must see that a time in fast approaching, when such a cry will be taken up, and probably result in as serious disturbances as those which wo hear of every day in older countries. The subject is a very important one and demands our immediate attention, nod the sooner a remedy is adopted the better for us. Before, however, suggesting a remedy we must look into the causes of the present depression. The starvers declare that they are unable to obtain work, and in some cases this may bo true. The province of Ilawke’s Bay has not felt the depression so much as other parts of New Zealand, and it may seem strange to the working classes of this province that able-bodied men arc unable to find enough work to keep the wolf from the door. Here we have always enough and to spare, but it is probably owing to the smallness of our population that wo escapo so easily. Wo can sec

the depression does not always bite its hardest all over the colony at the same time. One year the cry comes from Dunedin ; the next, perhaps, from Christchurch, to be followed, in after years, by Wellington and Auckland. It is therefore most apparent that the shoe always pinches hardest, where the population is the greatest. The difficulty of obtaining work in

large centres of population, then, may well be urged as a cause of the cry “bread or work.” No able-bodied man, unless he is a recent arrival In the colonies should be in a state of pauperism, and yet wo see flenty of strong, healthy fellows, who lave boen in the colony for a number of years, asking for “ bread or work.” How is it tliat there arc inen in the South Island who have made a largo cheque by shearing and harvesting, in the winter yet “stone-broke” as they call it ? With the majority the answer is not far to seek. It is the luxurious mode of living while the sun shines. The large cheque is too often lcnoched down at the hotel, both in drink and gambling ; and the spendthrift then looks to the State to support him. But what about the cry “ no work” ?

Those philanthropists who have taken this matter up, by providing work for the hungry, have often been disgusted by the manner in which their generosity has been abused. Repeatedly have wc heard accounts of men, who have been given work when they usked for it under distressing circumstances, leaving the work to rip, ns soon as the boss is out of sight. Those circumstances have got so common, that the newspapers even, have begun to look upon them as too stale to be recorded. It is therefore not surprising that philanthrophists have got disgusted, and ceased to aid in the laudable object of alleviating the distressed. It is owing to this that many a deserving case, has been turned away, unfed. The honest working man who is probably both able and willing to work, Ims to suffer because the dishonest loafer lias refused the work given to him. Thus we see the loafer (which is a type quite distinct from the working-man) is one of the great enemies of the working man in time of depression. And if wc wero in a position to examine the matter fully, wc should find that the majority of tlio.se agitators ore not working men , but simply loafers , whoso chief aim seems to be to live without working. The effect of our present charitable aid system, instead of alleviating distress, is to encourage it. The loafer acts as a sponge on the stato funds, and the more state funds there are provided the greater will be the increase of loafors. In other countries, the loafer feels no shame in living on what ho can got out of these funds and actually begins to look upon them as his right and privilege. Now wo hold this great principle that every man who is physically able to work should do so, and every man that demands work should get it. For every man who does not work, makes some other man do his share for him. This remark applies as well to the idle rich as to the idle poor. Every man should work contribute his in producing requirements of the community. It matters not in what way lie may be engaged, pro\ ided that in some legitimate occupation ho is helping towards the production of food, raiment and shelter. Now, the state finds cash for the relief of the poor and the loafer. Why not give them what they ask for? They ask for “ Bread or work,” and they have a perfect right to do so. Give it to them, but not the one without the oilier. “ He that will not work, neither shall he eat.”

The government should be empowci to give all people work of some sc would suggest farming and gardening, since these occupations are the means of producing the immediate wants of the poor. Farming and gardening recommend themselves as being a healthy occupation, and the system would probably pay, or nearly so. Even supposing we had a deficit to make up, the burden would not come so heavily on the taxpayer as at present. It would also tend to diminish the loafer class, who would be compelled to work. Let no payments bo made in cash, but let all the simple requirements cf everyday life bo given to those seeking the refuge of the state. Some agitators no doubt would say tin it would be unfair to employ men and m pay the market rate of wages. Th argument lias already been brought fo ward on several occasions when the G( vernment have piovidcd work for the ui employed. It might just as well be argue that A, who lias an income of XISO a year should be placed on the samo footing as 13, who has an incomo of X2OO. Another objection that may bo urged, and one for which wo hold respect, is that the employment of skilled labor in certain trades, would bring competition into the field with honest hard-working people engaged in the sninc trade. This, certainly, would bo a misfortune, but again, it woucl result in the greatest good to the greatest number, since tho community could purchase the wares produced at a cheaper rate. However, the evil could be avoided ns much as possible by giving employment in developing new industries not established in the colony. Let the principle be established that to evciyman who demands work, it shall bo given him ; and cvciy able-uodied man who will not work must be compelled to do so ; and we shall soon have an end put to such processions as took place in Auckland with the cry of “bread or work” as tlie text upon which tho agitation was based.

Doctors Gave Him Dp.—“ It is possible that Mr Godfrey is up and at work, and cured by so simple a remedy V (i J assure you it is true that he is entirely cured, and with nothing but Am. Co’s Hop Bitters, and only ten days ago his doctors gave him up and said lie must die.” “ Wcll-a-day ! If that is so I will go this minute and get some for my poor George. I know hops arc good. Head

The Brazen Serpent.--Like the brazen serpent that the great Jewish leader lifted high in the sight of the perishing followers, whereby they were saved from death, the discoveries of American Hop Bitters have placed before suffering, ailing mankind, a remedy which enables them, to fight disease with conquering advantage.