A WATER FAMINE.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16815, 5 June 1926, Page 13 (Supplement)

A WATER FAMINE.

EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT TO DRINK

(By “M.arama.”)

A short time since the good people, in Auckland suffered a water famine, and those in Wellington came very near to having the same experience. A cynical philosopher has obs.ervcd that it is always pleasant to hear of our neighbours’ misfortunes and in tins instance he would have specially chuckled l'or the shortage came in the midst of the greatest downpour of rain that we have had for many years. It is not with any intention of imitating the cynic that the matter is referred to; a water shortage is a serious calamity and calls for sympathy. It does, however, reveal qualities among different people that we do not suspect under ordinary conditions. Dwellers in cities lead such a sheltered and artificial life that any break in their ordinary routine leaves them helpless. In Auckland there was no notice given that water would not be available as usual. When people opened their morning paper they learned in many districts lhat no water whatever was to be had, and a hurried rush to a tap confirmed the news in a painful manner. All this time the rain was falling

heavily, and old settlers had no difficulty in catching what they wanted at ■> down pipes, and if neoessary of tapping such down pipes. But although old colonials could do this there were many who could not, and these were by no means confined to new chums. The young colonial can become a cockney as readily as his forefathers, if circumstances tend that way. It seemed a

hardship to many even to fetch water from the carts which carried it round to supply those who were short. On the other hand the good temper and

willingness of most people was most marked, and it makes us proud of outpeople to sec how they turn up at an emergency. The moh who worked fifteen and sixteen hours a day were trumps, while those who have been repairing water mains in bush country, in slush and mud, working extra hard receive and deserve the admiration of everybody. Six Foot of Man Al. While those who could do so fell back on down pipes and caught rain water, the unfortunate people who dwell in flats and boarding houses often found it impossible to lake this course. It is one more stage in the general movement towards artificial life.- The early settlers in this country or in any other could turn their hand to most things. They may not have reached the utmost efficiency in any one.of their many pursuits, but they were undoubtedliy very much more of men, and loss of machines. They had in most instances to devise the method and then carry it out, and this in itself was a mental training which the man who works to order never knows. The necessity of dealing with emergencies as they arose itimulalcd the intellect, and the pioneers were thinkers. It does not follow lhat they always thought right, but at least they did not accept their opinions at second hand. Everyone who came to the country in the early days was not capable and resourceful. Every young country had its tale of failures, sometimes due to circumstances; sometimes the fault of the man. The test was severe and only the strong and the able came through. Not My Job. As a country grotvs older work tends to fall into fixed grooves, and many a man gets through life creditably enough who would have cut a poor figure as a pioneer. A man learns a trade; perhaps becomes a really good workman at that particular trade, but outside it he knows nothing. Trade Unions endeavour to increase this tendency which is already strong enough. If a man is doing some repairs as a carpenter and a small amount of painting is required it is contrary to Labour ethics for the carpenter to do it. It is supposed to be taking the bread out of the painter’s mouth, as if the work and not the result were the desirable thing. The early pioneers made no such mistake; they wanted to get specific work carried out, and did not wait until the man who was supposed to have a lien on such work could come. If we persist in our system long enough we shall develop caste as it is known in India. There it is necessary for any white man to ha\e a small army of servants, because no man can do anything outside his own job; The man who grooms the horses could not sweep the garden paths; those who dust the house could not carry out the refuse; it would be beneath their dignity. None of these “servants is paid more than a meagre wage, but living is expensive because so many are wanted. A Cog In the Wheel. Wc like to think that colonials arc resourceful and able to turn theii hand to anything! Probably a bigger percentage of them are capable than would be found in Britain where .so many men work in factories and become part of the machinery. It cannot he questioned that division of labour means a greater production of wealth. It enables more people to live; it gives them greater leisure and more wages, but it docs not make for an improved breed of men. If the same thought were given to breeding men as to breeding racehorses or dairy cattle, the factory system would come in for much denunciation. Everybody would ~„r c c that it is not the quantity of life hut the quality that matters. Better n smaller number of all-round men !., u j women than swollen numbers wU mire not stir out of their sheltered life n f routine, even if they do not go so as the caste-riddcn Hindoo. lhat ; not to say lhat Urn factory system should be given up in the com'fines where it lias taken root. Such a course would ho impossible lor it would mean the starvation of whole populations. H should, however, be ; ..Hide lo warn us oil any course which would tend to reproduce the same conditions. Wc have already many people, young and old who have quite outgrown the pioneer ‘ and would find themselves very helpless in an emergency. In Barrie's ; -The Admirable Cnchlon lie imagines a nobleman with his fanul- ‘ " "servants wrecked on a South Sea ;™‘ nd The Butler is the one rm.n who rises to the occasion, and after the n tv have been stranded for we he libs lie is the acknowledged leader the King. Lho "‘ an who can ’ * l - olor

(Continued at foot of nest column.)

transport lies cost many people the use of their legs, though on Hie other hand it lias created thousands of amateur mechanics, while those who discuss cars are as the sands of the sea'.shore. It is always good to keep in close touch with Nature and witli actualities, ami not lo accept the results of invention and research as matters of course.