THE WORKING MAN AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1916, Page 7

THE WORKING MAN AND THE WAR.

To the Editor. . Sir, —Re your footnote to my letter of Tuesday re accusing me of ignorance regarding the workers- of New Zealand, 1 was merely alluding to those that In.ve enlisted willingly for the sake of King'and country, without any prospect or t.uu lor themselves, only believing it to be their duty to do so, whilst the whole thought of the average rich man in New Zealand is centred on making huge profits out of the poor man. , I think this is clearly proved by the yearly balance of each and every business firm in New Zealand that publishes tjieir year's business. It is evident that they do not make this profit out of the rich man. But regarding the workers that are left in New Zealand and denied or refused work, they liave to stay in the country and there is nothing left for them but only to go to the war, or the certain prospect of starving in New Zealand. Mark you, this is before conscription has become the law of the land, so therefore you can call it slavery (>;' tyranny, or what you like respecting the one class only, the worker, and that considering the worker is the biggest contributor to the army of any other class in this country. With reference to any measure of justice the worker is enjoying, he need not thank the employer one iota for it. The employer has the same feeling for the working man that lie has for any other machine, He has got to do his business. If the man is in a position to make big profits for him he will try to keep him oiled to keep in working order. As for any human feelings or brotherly love, none exist, except in proportion to his commercial value, The one person, and one person only, the workers have to thank is that great statesman, R. .1. Scdilon. The worker was in a bad position when he took office, and the worker's position has been going hack since Mr. Seddon's death. The only thing standing to workers of late years is the scarcity of labor and the prosperity of the country. With rc- ! gard to the rich class, they are in the .minority in every country in the world, I and would be much more so in New I Zealand if it was not for the working man. As far as doing their share in responding to the call >i( the i country, they are not, nor could they I if they had the mind, when the average rich man's family is one or two—and Very often girls at that—and if they happen to have a son that is willing to go he must get a commission, although in inany cases he has not a particle of military experience, which means that he is getting a princely pay to do his ow:i work, whereas the poor man's son liar, not a possibility of getting a commission unless he should show exceptional qualilieation.-r-I am, etc., , JOHN DIGGINS. Unperton, May 23.