ON THE WALLABY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2299, 30 July 1880, Page 2

ON THE WALLABY.

[to the editor. ] St it,—Mr James Crown’s definition and experiences of the above is, to my thinking, decidedly new churn. If lie was to reckon tiic cost to every stationholder of these wallaby sundowners he would speak more feelingly. There arc lots of men, it is well known, that make it (heir business to roam from station to station in search of nothing to do, and who invariably succeed. These arc not “ wallaby ” men. They commence operations in the towns whore they start from (often hurried out by the police) by taxing the unfortunate publican or lodging-house keeper, and they levy as they go, on the roadside pub for tea, bed, '’and breakfast, and a few deep sinkers, which they promise to pay on the road back. Then, hurrah ! for the road. The stations arc the next victims, but the managers have learnt by bitter experience to know shoddy from honest broadcloth, and they act accordingly. I can recollect the time when me.i hi search of work were welcomed, and if there was none they were forwarded on, but they did not make a trade of it then. \V hen you, Mr Editor, say many working men in New Zealand would appreciate J. Ik’s letter, I think you must bo indulging in a little quiet sarcasm. I have travelled the colonies for close on forty years, and have invariably found the squatter and fanner as charitable as their means would allow, till it became a nuisance, and in self-defence they have hardened themselves against supplying able-bodied idlers with tucker and shakedowns without an equivalent in the shape of work. J.L.B.