TO YOUNG NEW ZEALAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2470, 28 February 1893, Page 2

TO YOUNG NEW ZEALAND.

The next election will take place in about eight or nine months from now, and it ia therefore time to begin thinking over it. Since last election a large number of young men have come of voting age, and these should take care that their names are duly registered, so that they will be in a position to vote. Young men are generally very careless on this point ; they never think of anything but amusements and how to enjoy themselves, but we wish to remind them that the sunny days of their lives will soon pass away, and they will, before long, have to bear their share of the burdens of society. They will have to go through all the troubles aud auxioties their fathers have borne, and ought, consequently, begin to think how they can prepare themselves to meet them. One of the lirst things they ought to look after is the good Government of tho country. It is the custom to say that one Government is as good as another and that it does not matter who is elected or which party is in po.ver. That is utter uoiueiise. If people acted cm

that idea years ago we should still be grovelling in the dark ages. There are lii every couutry two parties : the rich and poor. The rich always say : " Things are very well as they are, so let them alone." They are conservative, for the political, if not the literal, meaning cf Conservatism is : " Let things remain as they are." On the other hand the poor and those who desire to improve the conditiou of sociaty say : " No. Tilings may be very well for you, but they are not so for those who are starving. We must progress until no one is in want. There is enough for all, but some have too much, and we must effect such reforms as will give all a fair share." That is the chief difference between Liberal and Conservative. It is not that a Liberal is a better, or a more charitable, or a more humane man than a Conservative. Many Conservatives are extremely charitable aud kind, while many Liberals are not so. The thing is the Conservative thinks the proper social condition is that some should be rich, and others poor; he thinks it wae so ordained, and that any disturbance of existing institutions must lead to disaster. The Liberal thinks that we have been always progressing, that we have not reached perfection yet, and that, therefore, we must continue to be progressive. " Large estates," says the Conservative, " are good for the country. They give a great deal of employment." " Large estates cut up into small ones will give ten times more employment," says the Liberal, "besides giving the people what they have a right to, a home on the land." This, is the difference between Liberal and Conservative, and now we would ask our young men to decide on the side they will take. They will soon want to make homes for themselves, but so long as the large estates remain intact there will be no chance for them. If they support the Conservatives large estates will remain as they are, and the most our young men can expect is a few weeks shearing on them ; if they support the Liberals they may lookforwari ts a home of their own. Let them therefore select for themselves, and we do not think that many of them will have much difficulty in seeing the side on which their bread is buttered.

UNIONISM.

Much as unionism is objected to it is capable of great good, as was exemplified last week in Waimate. There a dispute arose between threshing mill-owners, and their employees. The men wanted a rise of two shillings per 1000 bshols, but the mill-owners would only give an increase of one shilling. The consequence was that a public meeting was held, and that it was resolved to stick out for the two shilling rise. A strike seemed imminent when the officers of the Shearers and Labourers Union took the matter in hand. They pointed out to the men that the mill-owners had already made their contracts on the supposition that there would be no rise in wages, and consequently were not in a position to give such a large increase; also that the price of grain was so low that the farmers could not affurd to pay high wages. On these grounds they asked the men to accept the offer of the mill-owners, and look out for more next year. Their advice was accepted, and thus a strike was averted. The Waimate Times says that only for the officers of the Union a strike would undoubtedly have taken place, so it will be seen that after all unionism is good if properly and judiciously managed.