THE CHILDISHNESS OF GROWN MEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 3

THE CHILDISHNESS OF GROWN MEN.

Sir,—Looking on as a spectator from afar, one can perhaps form a clearer general idea of present happenings in Wellington's tramway cireles. And it is a ridiculous state of affairs that one sees. AVc sec a body of close on 400 grown-up men, apparently sane and civilised, running to heel and obeying the dictates of a few Labour agitators; stinlin? themselves, and making themselves generally unpopular, and holding themselves up to universal ridicule. Tho situation reminds ono of the Pied Piper legend: The Piper pipes and all tho rats'loose (heir individuality, and follow. "United we stand, alone we cannot." presumably is their motto. Poor things! It's well they know it, nnd admit it in the world. They combined for power—the power to take their own bread out of their mouths —or to bo lead together to want and to ridicule. How did the agitators play upon (heir susceptibilities? What pretext did they use for a tinier A mere childish dislike to discipline. A body ofnien prove that they need watching, so inspectors are appointed to watch them. They watch, but the men don't liko. it; so they cry oloud. and all run away. Brave children! To onlookers il: is ludicrous in the extreme. Ono could hardly bslievelli ot an iiitelliernt body of men in those, clays of ciilisrlitenmcu't could or would resort to such nursery methods of sulkine. "Shan't: play aiiy ■more, that's all, if you won't give me my way," you can imagine them saying. If they were, knocked off work, and' liml their pay stopped for n fortnight, would not they cry out about the injiislic-? nl' it? Yet hero we see them knocking thoir own pay off, on such a fecblo pretext.

All right! Let them go hungry! Lot then) make isics of themselves; and learn their lesson! Give them lime, ami they will come to their senses and realise thn childishness of their demands. ' Stand firm, oh, City Fathers, and prove at least that you are men, and set these babies a (rood example. Don't soli your power, privilege, ami principles to 'this pack of kid*. And a word lo you tramway babies: Don't l;e led any more. Quit this non?enn>, and pro back to worTc lilcn men before you lo?o your individuality and self-respect before all (ho world.—l am. eh\, WTLLTAM. A. AXDEKSOX. Gisborne, February (!.