Flings at Things.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 79, 13 September 1912, Page 1

Flings at Things.

Something for Nothing! This is not the announcement of a Free "Gift Solierae. ■ Oh t . ( noi"r ■■•.♦', ' : ':y,'y _■■•'•*' ,_...„.' I't'is-just a pitliy cofi'ttonS-tton'of'the idea which seems to dominate mankind iv these Ishmaelitish days. When every man's hand is against his fellows. * * * Something for Nothing. It is a Fact in Life that we cannot shut our- eyes to. In the pursuit of Something for Nothing Man will squander golden hours, often coin of the realm that would buy the thing he goes after twice over, and lower his whole standard of truth and justice. And Woman, too. What indignities will Woman not submit to at Bargain Sales in the quest cf Something for Nothing (or next to nothing-.. O the time and temper and "tin" .she foolishly and frenziedly fritters away. Both Man and Woman—how they c'inckle with glee when they have dodged the conductor for a penny tram fare. Something for Nothing. It seems to be an ineradicable trait in human nature to grab with both hands any opportunity to score a point ig the desire to get Something for- Nothin f. * a * Something for Nothing. Some 2500 people crowded the Wellington Town Hall last Sunday night week. To partake of the musical feast prowled by the Wellington Professional Orchestra. The hall was packed to overflowing. And the collection? Was the "plate" overflowing likewise ? Nay, nay, Orlando.. An analysis of the total takingsshowed that the average price of admission was— Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon — It was — Shout it not from the housetops, proclaim it not from the towersIt was— Let us whisper in your auricular cay ities — It was-*----"TUPPENCE!" J

A whole twopence. Could they spare it ? Keach down the comb and the tissue paper:— Sing a song of "tuppence" Dropping in the plate, Wellingt-on in giving's .- •■■•■■--•'' Sing a song of people Very loath to part For the cause of Music, In the name of Art. Sing a song of "tuppence," Hear its merry chink ; Blued it up on music— 'Twouldn't buy a drink. Sing a song of people, With a joy intense, Patronising concerts. Damning the expense. Sing a song of "tuppence," Music's brow to crown; Still we're not downhearted — It might have been a "brown." * „ -i Something for Nothing. There was a football match in Wellington on tlie 24th August. It was a game between a visiting New South Wales League team and a local side. The game had to be played in a pubhe park, and no charge for admission could legally be made. Tickets, however, were sold at the entrance, but though one could pay and go in, one could also go in without paying. Now, you would think that no one, that is, no adult male of sporting inclinations, would have begrudged a shilling to witness such a contest. ' But the one who did begrudge it was multiplied by many hundreds. Consequently the "gate" suffered considerably, and was but a poor ro-

ward for the enterprise and expense of providing such a spurting attraction. Tax these people with being mean, iiiid they probably would deny it vigorously. Most likely they are'not mean, and would be the first to respond to an apJtSHil ,£or. .finannial assistance. They were merely in the grip of bouitthing for Nothing. s s * Something for Nothing. This is the idea that possesses the minds of the larger number of nouuuiotiista. When a baser motive does not sway their souls. Without the unceasing ..vigilance, untiring energy and strenuous battling of the unionists of the past and present. What would the worker's lot bo in even the most progressive countries of the earth? No answer is necessary—every worker can picture in his mind's eye th© awfulness thereof. The amelioration of the lot of the toiler has been secured by much expenditure of brain, money, time and energy. On the part of unionists. By unionists and unionism alone. Yet the non-unionist stands outside the ranks of his union brothers. He enjoys all the hard-won rights wrung by his fellow-workers from the master-class. He shares in the increased wages, the fewer hours of toil, the improved conditions of work generally. He participates in all these, yet he refuses to pay a "bean" towards gaining or maintaining any betterment of Labor's lot. Through the efforts of unionised workers, tlio social status of Labor has been raised till Manhood has triumphed over Mammon.

.The non-unionist basks in the warmth and glow of the dignity and recognition that United Labor has won for the worker. He even absorbs some of the rays, j but the light he gives forth is but a poor, pale, lustreless reflection of the - r/*o! tl' ;-..*;. ,« Ilia ,',oul reii,. ins [A:\r-\-. mid when the , dark cloiida of struggle against oppression gather round, his feeble light is totally obscured. f His inner being is not illumined with the golden light of Manhood. He is at heart a slave. The savorless, sapless fruit of Something for Nothing. * * * Down in Christchurch they're more generous.than in Wellington. A municipal organ recital was held in Canterbury's capital on the same Sunday night as the Windy City concert we have commented on. There were 820 people present, and the collection realised £18 Gs. 7Jd. Which is nearly Gd. a head. To those who are interested in how people contribute their "coin at the door," the figures in connection with the recital will be instructive. One magnate gave 2s. Cd., two others contributed 25., 90 donated an honest shilling, 373 dropped in a sixpence, 320 gave the usual threepenny-piece, 28 limited their contributions to a penny, and This deserves a separate paragraph— One, whose nationality is unknown, according to the local press chronicler, helped the collection to the extent of a halfpenny. Nationality unknown? He must have been a Wellingtonian.

Who breathes must suffer, and who thinks must mourn; And he alone is bless'd who ne'er was born. —Prior.