LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1162, 24 June 1911, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

——♦— — FROM THE WORKERS' POINT OF VIEW. Sir,—l nm not one of the company of august persons who deign to write to newspapers and graciously inform the world at large about all things and all men as they ((he writers) seo them; but for some time past a big avalanche, which I will appropriately name "Duly," has impelled me to raUo my wet- small voice, or, rather, wield my frail pen, to Hie following effect. When the last general election timo came around 1 was in (he position of most young men on tho occasion when they registered their fir.-t vote for a candidate for the Legislature. I did not have a sufficient knowledge and grasp of matters political to make me worthy of having a vote. However, Ido not advocate raising the ago limit on that account, since were tho coming election to allow me to exc-rciso my maiden vote, I would be in the same position. A young man does not lake much interest iu politics until he lias to shoulder the responsibility of saying his say as to which "mighty" shall sit in a certain seat. Since tho event alluded to, I have consistently endeavoured to lessen my deficiency. I tried different newspapers, until I came to The Dominion- The healthy tone and absence of humbug, sophistry, and casuistry (I use the latter word according to its present general usage) claimed and maintained my respect. As a result—mainly duo to the influence of the logical leading and sub-leading articles in your paper—l will at the forthcoming election vote, not as "Dad" did, but according to my own convictions. Not that i blame myself for following in Dad's footsteps. It is (generally speaking) a safe plan until oue is in a position to judge, for onesslf. Then one can follow or divert—but with open eyes! It is really amazing how apathetic the average country worker is towards politics. A shower of rain will stop 90 per cent, of them from attending a political address, irrespective of their political colour. But tho cause that your paper.advocates has not much to fear from Labour, because most ot them who cannot vote for a Labour candidate will support an Opposition man, in preference to a supporter of the present Government. Even tho apathetic worker, although he may think that it is necessary to borrow, and also mov not object to contributing towards defence, nevertheless. '■ even he strongly objects to' these ithings being don'; on a colossal scale without the public, being consulted.

I had the pleasure (?) of being for about ten minutes enchanted with Mr. Scruple's noble views, p.vpre.srcd'in refined language and 'cultured diction, but one cannot have exmiisite pleasure without making onrVif liable to t'MTltctitlteg pain. T know that I shall endure tho torments of the damned foi having gazed on a god and listened to his divine voice. Mcthinks that if war broke out that, those heroes of. the red flag would get- short shrift.

On bearing a railway plate-layer complain about favouritism in'the service, I asked, "Would vcu not get fairer treatment under a Civil Service Board?" "\ don't know," lie replied. "The present c orvico is bad enough." That was all be knew- Another instance of the arathy to which I linve alludrd. Personally, T think that the wav the Government is usurning the functions of private and municipal bodies is shameful; but I havo the consolation of knowing (tint the big"»r a. quagmire thev. make the less solid eroinul there will bp left for them to stand on, and thov will fall in sooner or W'-t

There ia a matter I would like to be given publicity. I went to our State sxihools until T had nassed the Sixth Standard, learnt a few fl«zen subjects, and when I got out to paddle my own ca"ic T soon ca"ii to .the conclusion tfie Ktato would have done its duty by me much Mter had it iust lauelit me the three TZ's, and spent money that was it.wl jo me the. other subjects, oni technical, literary, or arts i-onr?". npcord;ne to the vocation which I had taken a faii"V Ni wh»n 1 ."'.use <"*nu?h to roali-e the value of education. The avca?p healthy schoolboy is o vi?nro»s ani'val tb«t thinVe more .■>Hoii l football fVn education. This matter i\nc* not nffivif me i'ow. hecau c 1 J have spent abnu' .-PflO nn;th« bi«f]' of />(l««nfinn wbich' T required, and have h,vl to Te-le.arn, and. ; n "wf cases, unlearn whet Hip ' rnblv"■.elinol tmii»ht me. But for the sake of that PTAsperaHi" little devil of a rWv "'•mneller, "Po'feritv." I nen this. Thanking you in anticipation,—l am, etc., WANT A CHANGE.