FRUGALITY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 291, 28 August 1873, Page 6

FRUGALITY.

The Earl of Derby, at the annual meeting of tbe Provident Knowledge Society, tbe object of which is to inculcate amongst the poor, habits of forethought and thrift, expressed an opinion that as a nation we are distinguished by a singular want of frugality in our private affairs: — " There is too great a disposition to regard open handedness as the sign of a generous disposition, and a disposition to save as a disposition to meanness ; but it is hardly necessary to refute such an obvious fallacy. Habits of prudence and forethought in money matters are far from being common in this country, and to endeavour to encourage them is one of tbe most practical forms which a really thoughtful benevolence can assume. Look, for one thing, at the working of the county courts. Why, one-half of their business would be swept away at a stroke if tbe unwholesome custom of buying on credit were to disappear ; or, admitting that in the necessities of the labor market it could not disappear altogether if at least it were to become tbe exception and not the rule. Look again at the popular complaint, of the very well founded complaint, of the adulteration of articles of food bought by the poor. The customer is in. debt, and he must take that which is offered to him at the price at which it is offered, and if he refuses \ not only will he get nothing else instead, but he would run, tbe risk of being county-courted for a debt which he could not pay. That was the whole secret of the success of co-operative stores. There is no magic in the word. They can sell cheaply because they make no bad debts, and they make no debts because those who come to them have no option except to pay ready money. You may educate men as highly as you please — you may give them the franchise and call upon them to exercise it as often as you think fit — you may provide tbe best newspapers in the world to tell them what is going on — you may give them galleries and museums without end to cultivate the taste ; but no amount of political freedom, of literary culture, or of refinement, will produce a feeling of independence and self-respect, whilst the man knows that be is in somebody else's power — that he has on his shoulders a burden of debt from which he cannot shake himself loose. That is a slavery almost degrading, and I am afraid almost as common, as the kindred slavery of drunkenness. If temperate habits are likely to keep a man from indebtedness, as the devotees of temperance are always telling us, and very truly telling us, so on the other hand there is nothing more likely to create intemperate habits than a perpetual anxiety arising from pecuniary embarrassments ; whilst nothing can more confirm in any man the resolution to keep sober than the desire to lay in youth ,and middle age what may be a provision for sickness, for old age, for the widow whom he may leave, or for the children who may come after him.