CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1018, 15 July 1911, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—With your permission I would like to reply to a letter in your issue of the 13th inst., signed “ Ratepayer.” How a man living in a country like New Zealand where we all receive such a liberal education could write such ridiculous nonsense is, I think, almost beyond the comprehension of every moral and right-thinking man or woman. I would like to tell “Ratepayer” that the ungodly method adopted by him is no reasonable excuse tor the declining birth-rate, and that he who should be at the head of bis household should know better than to supply the public with his own private matrimonial and moral affairs. Such public statements do not help to refine nor cultivate the moral minds of anybody, and the public have not asked ‘ ‘ Ratepayer ” to supply them with the method adopted by him in his own private home, therefore it is most ignorant of him to do so. In New Zealand there is no excuse for a married or single man to be out of work, because the industry is calling for assistance every day. I could also mention the names of several married men whose weekly earnings amount to more than ,£4 10s per week for fully nine months of the year, yet at the end of every fortnight these men are not only penniless but they are unable to meet their creditors. Why? Because they frequent the racecourse, the hotel, and the “two up ” school just a little too olten—that’s all. And perhaps this is the class of man who would like to make the public believe because a single, respectable and honest man obtained a position, and knew how to keep it, he should be ousted to make room for a married waster. Instead of every working, married man being respect- , able, honest and honourable, making the best use of his earning,s to provide for the comfort of / - -anf': tamily, alas, we see " V/,T’ % carried disreputable, Every married r - ' ’ try and capture the ami Uie best wages, give the uc=.l results for his wages, live according to his means, mind his own business and keep his own private and moral affairs at his fireside, and remain there as •-h as possible himself, try and make his home an example to the world. It “Ratepayer” would like an Illustration of such a home, ’"t him read “ The Cotter’s Satur*y Night,” and follow such an sample. —I am, etc., iomßAijD Hunxkr Yates. Whitaunui, July 14th.