EXAMPLE IS PRECEPT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 280, 20 August 1921, Page 7

EXAMPLE IS PRECEPT

Sir —I have read several interesting articles and letters in your valuable paper of late, amongst them to the effect that wilful waste brings woeful want the last straw, etc. Now, Sir, most wise heads know there is a day of reckoning close at hand. But pray, Sir. if our “big guns” don't set the example how can we expect the working men to do so? Why do not our Prime Minister, our Ministers, members of Parliament, •and all the heads of our Government Departments make a ten per cent, reduction in their salaries? Then they could make a reduction in the ordinary wage-earner: but, for goodness sake, don’t ask the poor people to set the example. Then all commercial houses can follow suit, cut down expenses in many ways, lower onmmiMlons, etc., and bring about a more economic state of affairs than exists to-day. The fact of the matter is that we have got into such extravagant ways of living that one and all are trying to get rich quick. L One and all have been having a right royal good lime, but now that the farmers' income has gone overboard, pray tell me how can we go on as we have been going, for practically all wealth comes from the land, and now that that source of income has been reduced to next to nothing it must reflect back upon the public? If the public would only use a little common sense and strive for happiness instead of striving for idleness, pleasure, money, etc'., how different things would be, but, on tho other hand, we are becoming greedier day by day; those that have money to lend are anxious, to get a higher rate of interest, and high interest is not in the best interests of a young

country. Ono and all want to live better, dress better, have better homes,, and more luxury of all sorts; and howon earth can this be done with shorter hours and less efficient work? Unless we stop our waste our waste will ere long stop us. Rich and poor must retrench at no distant date. And taxation must be put in order, and to do tins drastic alterations will nave to be made in many different ways; petty thieving must be stopped—if not, the loafers' will Increase until the willing worker will throw up the sponge in disgust; and, instead of our laws being made more lenient, they should be made more drastic, and inflict punishment wherever required, and it is high timo the public realised that to-day we aro living upon the edge of a precipice, and if we want to improve our position we must get to wk ah once, and one and all should realise that it is everyone’s duty to lend c. hand to put our house in order ere it is too late. It is already late, but. the old adage stil.l stands good: better late than never.—l am, etc, F. J. RYDERPahiko, Otaki, August 13, 1921.