A Wheen Thochts.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 25, 15 September 1894, Page 7

A Wheen Thochts.

(By Scotch Thistle.)

Our member, Mr Kelly, is to be commended fo.r the common sense he displayed in the position he took up in connection with the lease in perpetuity. Surely if it is wrong 1 to sell the birthright of the people for ever, it cannot be far from wrong to lease it for a thousand years, which practically means for ever. >Let the Government stick a little closer to their principles &nd yield less to expediency, and their grey hairs may yet descend in honour to the grave.

The Wasters and Apprentices and Shearers Accommodation Bills are bills which may not accomplish much reform, but it will not be because there is not room for it. It would be well if, through alterations in our social customs, or through the force of public|opinion, these measures were unnecessary, but it is not so; and the question of the treatment of apprentices and of the accommodation of workers in general, is a subject ripe for legislation. I think it was Hugh Miller who observed, when speaking of the bothy system in vogue in the North of Scotland, that if be was a : legislator, one of his first actions would be to abolish.the bothy system, as he considered it a source of youthful depravity rnd corruption. The bothy system has taken a firm hold in New Zealand, and would be difficult to eradicate. But as comfort is all rich and poor can get out of life, it would be well that employers of labor should provide suitable accommodation for their workers ; and as the workers’ spirit responds to his surroundings and to the interest shown in him, the benefit woudl be mutual.

Evidently the honourable John is not a believer in the motto that “ all, save truth, falls still-born from the Pressand as his sensitive spirit has been stung' by those cut-throat bandits, the critics, he very naturally would like to have a slap at them ; but let him possess his troubled soul in patience, and remember the good old Emersonian truth, that no one can injure a man’s character save himself. As for his desire for the personal name, as fechtin’ Tam would observe, “ it’s measures, not men, the body politic seeks after.”

The Temperance Convention has met, patted itself on the back, said its prayers, and departed. Being- a conquering body, and having an adequate return to show for the labour expended, they can afford to be pleased with themselves ; and being the chosen people they can afford to be a bit fastidious about the terms on which they will have peace. Apparently they approach each peaceoffering of the present Government in the same spirit that the old Scotchman approached his home one evening (when he had a wee drappie in his e’e) muttering ‘ ‘lf my parritch. is het, there’ll be a row ; an’ if my parritch is cauld, there’ll be a row ; an’ whether they’re het or cauld there’ll be a row.” So let it be. To the prohibitionist on moral ground, I admit that drink is as the old Scotch matron said of weans : “ Muckle uncertain blessings, and muckle certain care.” But the Prohibitionist, on financial grounds, is a man after my own heart. Mr Jago is so clear: there is your sixpence, and there is your glass of beer. You drink the beer and there’s only the sixpence left in the pocket cf the publican; and one departs with the feeling of sadness that I used to feel when a boy. I spent my pence on lollies —no adequate return. Later on the same feeling would creep over me. After I had spent money travelling to a football match, and after fighting for an hour and a half, would walk wearily off the field, covered with the shame of defeat, and enveloped in an outer covering of blood and mire—no adequate return. Still later, the same feeling, slightly intensified, would come over me when the wife of ray bosom would pay a visit to the milliner, and come home in all

her womanly glory, with thirty shillings’ worth of the sweat of my ht-ow on her head —no adequate return. I could stand the arguments of Stout or the eloquence of Isitt, but thia financial view of the case fetches m<* —sort a touches my Scotch blood. To-day is the day of purple and fine linen, of cakes and of wine, but the day of the Prohibitionist shall be th& day of sarks and breeks, of bread and of water. Clearly the financial Prohibitionists are the men, and much, misspent energy and money shall perish with them.