The Unemployed.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 23, 11 August 1911, Page 6

The Unemployed.

"See the unemployed!" "I do. What a bedraggled, spiritless, sodden-looking" eroAvd they are, to be sure. Cannot something be done for their relief, O .Sage?" _ ''Most assuredly something can be done for their relief.; but, as you. well knoAV, to do the sensible thing would .not be desirable." "I knoAV nothing of the sort. The. sensible thing is to put them ■ to-work at. reasonable Avages, and I can think of nothing more desirable than that men who -wish to Avork should be alio wed-to work." "I am surprised at your ignorance. The unemployed are absolutely, necessary to civilisation." "I am sure you are Avrong for once, 0 Sage." "Let us see. If all. men AA'ere employed, then there would-be-no unemployed. Am I right?" "Obviously." "And if,-.there Avere no unemployed there would be no strike breakers aa hen men went out on strike. Is it not-so?" "It is."

"And. .accordingly, when men struck, the employer would either have to concede the-demands cf the workmen ,cr close their plants." ''' "Yes.""And as a small profit is better than- no profit fit all, employors would not close their shops except as a '.eiy last resort." • : "Surely." ; "And so employees would become ajs, arrogant as employers are now, and employers would* become as meek as employees are now. Do you follow mcf J ""' "I think I do. That would be a terrible state of affairs, wouldn't it r" "Ye«, for,-the. emplo3*ers."—' Life."