DR, FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 188, 29 October 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

DR, FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

LABOUR (Copyright , 1927. rpHE rise of the importance of labour is characteristic of our civilisation. The whole tendency of modern law is to protect the weak. The labouring man having only his hands is often at the mercy of the man with brains. Brains should be encouraged but the rights of the labourer ought to be protected. No one looking over history can refrain from the conclusion that the effect of labour unions is not lost. They have gained many victories. Of course, labour unions are often foolish and do many things that are prejudicial to their best interests, but, on the whole, they are a staunch bulwark for the rights of the labouring man. Although in this age of machinery and inventions we are not so dependent upon hand labour as formerly, yet we all do dei>end upon it to a degree Work to many is a badge of servitude, hut it ought not to be. The worker is the moral stay of the country. Most churches and other spiritual enterprises draw their support from the labouring class. Most crimes come from the idler. As Gilbert Chesterton says, when a man works twelve hours a day on the street car he has no time to play with other men’s wives. It is all he can do to take care of his own. It is labour that is a sheet anchor of morality. If all mankind were sufficiently endowed and we were all idle all day long we should very soor be cutting one another’s throats. The happiest man on the whole is the man who has his daily task anc loves to ply it, while the unhappiest man is the one who has nothing to do for into his idle hands very soon comes the opportunity to commit a wrong.