MR WILSON AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2398, 13 September 1892, Page 4

MR WILSON AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Permit me a few remarks re above. As the case presents itself to me it stands thus : In your issue of 26th July you make several statements about a large landowner, which owner turns out to be Mr Wilson, Allandale. Your paper of 11th August contains a reply from Mr Wilson, in a letter dated 2nd August. He says your statements, one and all, are false, and challenges you to prove otherwise. And now we have “ Working Man’s ” idea of it, and so far as I can make out his contention is: That it is immaterial whether you have mis-stated facts or not, but Mr Wilson has no right to employ as cheap labor as he can get. I presume this leading light of the working class (a class I am proud to belong to) when he wants the necessaries of life goes not to the best and cheapest store, but to the one in most need of his patronage. I can’t, see what Mr Wilson’s mortgage has to do with the point of dispute at all, unless “ Working Man ” thinks the force of his letter lies in the amount of impertinent abuse he can throw at Mr Wilson; and although not endowed with the amount of intelligence which your correspondent predicts for the future generation I venture to suggest a way to put this question to rights, viz., either to prove what you say in your paper of 26th July, or apologise to Mr Wilson for the in justice done him, either of; which would satisfy all classes.. .And, to quote from Wo king Man,” we are not to be “hoodwinked” by such side j issues as he raises, or led to believe that we can be made rich and nil landowners by Act of Parliament. —I am, &c., Bona Fide Working Man. Blue-Cliffs, 20th August, 1892.

[This letter reached us some time ago, but as we considu’ed enough had been said on the subject wo did not publish itA request to publish it has been repeated, and we have done so. We have nothing to apologise to Mr Wilson for. Our statements were correct. The only point worth talking about is : Was seven “pence per chain a fair price for cutting the fences ‘I Mr Wilson said it was. The men preferred to walk all the way to Christchurch in the depth of winter and without a penny of money than do it at that price. We are not in a position to say who is right. Our correspondent preaches the doctrine that employers have a right to cut down wages as low as they can. This is good, coming from a working man.—Ed.J