Round With the Hat.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7749, 27 February 1905, Page 2

Round With the Hat.

] Now Zealand is a place in which it is not possible for any but mean men and rdgiues to become rich. There are many reasons why this should be so. Our system of taxation is especially designed to prevent excessive opulence, and the cost of living is higher than in any other locality on the globe's surface, |; u r, perhaps, South Africa. If we were not so rich in natural resources, it would- be quite impossible for us to maintain the present scale, imrt, more, if bad times come again we shall he obliged to take in a lot of sail. One thing which especially .contributes 'to keep prop!.- ,'i. .11

waxing fait is nhe extreme resource and ingenu'i'ty which is tlisplj.-.-id i.\ certain individuals in til communities 'in taking rou-vl the 11..1. The hat tiiick is performed in J'alluerston probably more persistenllv and effectively than in anv other town in New Zealand. ' " The Square " is the iavourite patrol ground nor the genus canvasser. A day scarcely passes without a visitor who in the most geniuil and jovial way -requests a contribution in money or i n any kind for this or that. The churches-there are fourteen denominations here-nrc inveterate ..JOggnrs ; so are the schools; and the volunteers ; aIK I the bands ■ and the A. and P. Society ; and the Farmers Union ; and the Y,M C A • and the sports' clubs ; and the Beautifying Society ; and dozens of deserving and undeserving objects. iPhon (here are always people about |to perpetrate matrimony who want presents, an d others leaving the country for their country's good, or tutting to other spheres of useiossiicss, who want presentations,- and the children who carry round tickets to sell for the Band of Hope. And when the storekeeper in the Squurethoy never seem to go otitside the Square—has mot and saeisfied all these levies, request*), and demands he is set upon by people from the country who want contributions for local fetes, diversions, and circuses. jThe thing has grown to such an extent that it has become a howling evil which can, only be combated by ombination and a reference of all cquests to a seject committee for determination on their merits or otherwise. That committee will, I .-on-over, have to' wear shot-prof ur- | nour and conduct iw fittings- incognito in a cellar, for from the maddening crowd ol gilt and subscription mongers.—Mtanuwatu Times.