A Country's Crime

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 57, 12 April 1912, Page 9

A Country's Crime

There is no poverty in New Zealand, says the anti-Socialist. People may ha starving in other countries, but not in New Zealand, boasts the ill-inform-ed worker. Let us see. What is this? The ''Grey River Argus" of March 26 says:—

"At tho Magistrate's Court yesterrlay morning an old man was charged by the police with vagrancy. It was stated that tho unfortunate man had iicvn in ill-health for some time, and failing to make a living, had given himself up to the police with the hope tkat provision could bo made for his keep. The Magistrate stated that this was a v-ery hard ca-se. The man wa3 past working, ,«,nd was not qualified to get tho pension. He was now thrown on charity. The Inspector stated that the superintendent at the hospital would not admit him to tho Old Man's Home. The Magistrate said he had two ways open to him. The first was to convict and discharge, and the other ■fco send him to jail for a month so that ho would be removed from the district and might get into the old man's homo at another place. Inspector Black stated that under tiie Charitable Aid Board Act the local board would bo made responsible. Accused stated that he would like to bo sent to Hokitilca. There were decent people there, and he might be able to get a, light job. He was one of flho earliest arrivals on the Coast, and knew a lot of people in AVcstland. The Magistrate: Have you any means of getting there ? Accused: No. I have only a shilling. The Magistrate said ho did not like to send the old man to jail. It was a hard case, but ho could sog no remedy. He convicted accused and ordered him to come up for sentence when called upon. The accused left the court in as great a quandary as to how to get a living as before he entered it." Only a shilling in his pocket, ajid turned out into the streets! What a spectacle I What a crime! Being honest, he is turned adrift to starve. If a thiefj society would have cared for him. Picture tftae poor old derelict of Nr.w Zealand capitalism, with tottering footsteps, wandering through the streets begging bread and shelter to sustain life in a toil-worn body. Then, New Zoalanders, throw hats in air and givethree times three for British liberty and fair play- Under the cant and hypocrisy of "God's Own Country" is hidden the tragedy of the nations.