A SEVERE LESSON.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2670, 11 October 1881, Page 2

A SEVERE LESSON.

The “Pall Mall Gazette” says:— “The sentence of a year’s imprisonment pronounced at Leeds on Thomas Hirst, of Batley, for criminal negligence loading to the death of a number of people in his employment is severe, as it istprobably novel; but it cannot be considered as in excess of the merits. Hirst bought a sixteen years old boiler for an old song, and, on no better recommendation than his stoker’s, proceeded to use this piece of cheap and uncertificated wreckaage as if it had been a brand new and wellwarranted article, The inevitable result was a disastrous explosion, accompanied with a melancholy loss of workmen’s lives. When the worst came, Hirst, who is a loser to the extent of some thousands of pounds, appears to have done his best, at the risk of his own and his sons’ lives, to remedy the irremediable, and for such desperate efforts he need not be refused any credit that may be due. But had he been suflicieutly thoughtful of the lives he had pactically taken charge of, the calamity in all likelihood would not have occured.

The quest of wealth must have some limits, and this sentence should have an excellent effect in quickening the carefulness of idolent and selfish capitalists,"