FAITH IN THE UNKNOWN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 171, 28 October 1910, Page 4

FAITH IN THE UNKNOWN.

All the colonies are familiar with the "colonial experiencer" who "leaves Home to wear out his old clothes.'' Relatives of "remittance men" seem to have an idea that if they are useless at Home and addicted to any form of vice, they are desirable citizens for the colonies. The false assumption that a man who is useless in Britain will be useful in Xew Zealand if he has a periodical remittance is not only bad for the remitter, the beneficiary, but also for the morals of the people who might prey on this class of person. In a Magistrate's Court a few days ago, a tradesman sued a man for monies lent to remittance men. It was alleged that defendant had some kind of a hold on these men, and that the tradesman took the defendant's, word that it would be '"all right.' It was further advanced that these gentlemen to whom money was advanced on the word of defendant, were in the habit of wandering about a beach "'half-naked," and that the money obtained was used in the purchase of liquor, and so 011. The Magistrate said it appeared a, childish proposition that a tradesman should advance money to half-naked men on the word of a second party. At any rate, the plaintiff was nonsuited. If there is any lesson to be learned from the recital of these facts, tradesmen should obviously be the scholars. It seems to be specially easy to concoct the most patent '"cock and bull" story and to get the necessary credit on the strength of it. Tn a country where the credit system flourishes so widely, nt necessarily follows that the honorable debtor must suffer for the sins of the people of the other sort, and this is the point that is of the most vital interest to the "'good mark."