The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1911. TO CONTROL THE WASTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 15 November 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1911. TO CONTROL THE WASTERS.

There was si man in Auckland the other day whom Magistrate Kettle classes under the expressive title "waster." He was not sober, he gambled, but above all he was in arrears to the tune of £4B for the maintenance of his child. The Magistrate said the same things that this paper has said at intervals for many years —that the method of dealing with wasters is peculiarly ineffective, that to merely gaol- a man is only resting him nicely to become a bigger waster than ever, and that his punishment falls harder on his wife and family than on himself. There is nothing new or strange about these facts or arguments, but although they are trotted forth by magistrates and newspapers year after year, the waster goes on wasting and the numbers of the class increase. Mr. Kettle on this occasion said that if he had his way he would have a farm of some thousands of acres where he would put men like tin; person lie was dealing with. The most important thing be said, however, was that he would force wasteiv to work on this farm, that they be credited with the wages earned, and that the wages be sent to the wives and families. We made this exact suggestion years ago and have continued to make it at intervals, but the waster still waxes fat (and kicks his wife) and is uncontrolled and uncontrollable under the conditions that insist that (lis wife and family shall be the greater sufferers. Tn this particular case, after the magisterial lecture, the man was prohibited from obtaining drink and was made to swear to be good for 12 months. No person having acknowledge of a particular kind of human being would accept his onlh as binding. We are convinced that Hie only cure for the waster is to manhandle him. to drive him to work, and to see that he keep. ii(. it. To fine a waster or to make him swear on oath Is merely issuing a license to him to go on being a waster,. We are peculiarly tender to the scallawag in this country and pecti-

(liarly harsh to the women and children whom the scallawag refuses to look after. The idea of the farm for wasters, and compulsory labor on it, could be carefully sown by the various political candidates who are at present engaged in verbally "ragging" the other fellow.