ORIGINAL BUT COMIC.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9052, 11 February 1908, Page 4

ORIGINAL BUT COMIC.

There is something original in the Premier's proposal to get rid of the Chinese market gardeners by setting the dominion'* prisoners to provide the people with the delectable cauliflower, the luscious love-apple, the tearful onion which is so often in a stew, the great-hearted if homely cabbage, and other kinds of culinary vegetables. So long as the criminal and the vegetable can be uplifted in one and the same act no one will regret the industrial demolition of the "Chow"; but the idea smacks of a new "department," and new State departments are beginning to be looked on askance. . The products of the prisoners may be sold cheaper and fresher than those of John Chinaman, but the indirect cost may easily add materially to the direct cost of the vegetables. There is a humorous as well as an original side to the question of turning the criminal classes in our prisons into State horticulturists. One can fancy them labelled 'in the greengrocers' shops something like *;hi3:—"These caLbages grown by a wife-deserter—3d a-piece—half goes to starving children—support a good cause!" "Tomatoes raised by Burglar Bill —wife in distress —every pound , purchased helps his children and uplifts Bill!" But probably the" criminals 'will strike when set to do work that has hitherto only been though 4 ; good enough for Chinamen. What then? The position is full of humors. Seriously, the idea of making criminals earn their living and support those who were dependent upon them ere they were gaoled is a good one, but it will take a good deal of thinking out to bring it to a practical and profitable issue.