ONE KIND OF PROSPERITY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8165, 20 April 1895, Page 1

ONE KIND OF PROSPERITY.

Commonting on tbo numbor of thriftloss and unemployed, and tho public dcbb, Mr George Hutchison, M.H.U., said : It is almost tragic wh«?n you reflect that each of those destitute starving creatures, and every ono of iheso doadbeats is assumed, for tho purpose of such calculations, to be as fit, to bear his or her burden «'f dobt as anyone present. Mr Cadman recently Btated itTfho Noith that since 1891 tho Government had reduced the dobt by L 2 3s Id [a head. Twelve months before Mr Ward statod that it had been lessenod in their lime by L 2 63. It would soem, thoroforo, according to these two Ministers, that laat yeir iho decrease had been reduced by 2s lid. Mr Soddon is said to have assorted tho other night that tho decrease was about L 5 a head, but then no ono paid much attention to what he said on financial subjects. The fact remains, however, that hecording to the most recent statistics the dobt por head is L 53 10s 6d. If, however, wo consider that only about onotonth of the population aro veritablo producers, the debt is really about LJGG per head, and this burden has been largely increased by tho present Govornmont, who at the same time largely dimiiiibhed tho ability to boar it.

' John, you are not listening to a word Inm saying !' ' Why, my dear, I am all ears.', ' I know you aro, and that makes it all the moio provoking.' DifUdent lover— ' I know that I am a perfect bear in my manner.' She— Sheep, you mean. Bears hug people— you do nothing but bleat.' Robinson — ' Smith, did yon know that I onco lived for ono hundred and fifty days on wator?' Smith — • Pt>haw ! I don't believe it. 1 ' 'Pon my word ! JCuvk in poean eruiw in • private yacht.'