The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1887. Small Debts

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 112, 29 March 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1887. Small Debts

Our well-informed contemporary, the Wellington Post, Bays : — " A bill to abolish civil proceedings for small debts has been prepared, but has yet to be considered by the Cabinet." This confirms apparently what that journal has already said on the subject, to the effect that such a measure was in contemplation by the Colonial Secretary. We are pleased to notice the Auckland Bell supports pur views as to making all debts irrecoverable by law, instead of making a limit of £20 — " We could quite understand a measure proceeding from the present Government having for its object the making of all debts irrecoverable in a court of law. It would bfl as statesmanlike as it would be bold, and though it might be attended with inconveniences — perhaps more fanciful than real — it would bo very strongly defensible. The editor says further on — " whatever may be said on the general principal it seems to us that the partial remedy for the evils of the credit system proposed by the Goverument would be wholly unworkable. Its first and greatest evil would be the suffering it would inflict on the poor, for it would at one fell swoop annihilate their credit." We take it that would be the intention of the Bill. To be consistent it would be absolutely necessary for the Government to take the initiative by making all its payments for work done in cash, this rule to be compulsory on all other employers of labor so that when the laborer, of whatever class, finished his day's work he would have money in his hand to purchase food and other necessaries for himself and his family. The fact that the servant or laborer has to give long credit to his master or employer appears to be lost sight of altogether. As the working man has to give credit for his labor he surely cannot be blamed for getting credit in his turn that he may live. Under the present system the storekeeper or retail dealer virtually supplies the Government, and other employers, with a large proportion of the capital necessary for them to carry on their businesses. Let the reform begin at the fountain heads and in a very short time the credit system, as understood by the term "small debts," would die from inanition.