The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1889. The Working Men's Bank.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3140, 27 February 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1889. The Working Men's Bank.

A short while hack the Wanganui Herald writing under the above title said: " What is to become of our working men when they have.becomo incapable of-work, ■when they''are unable to compete with the young and strong and vigorous? The admirable Friendly Society organisations do not answer the question, for they do not provide a man with work. The Trades Unions- do not answer it, for they oan offer no protection against the incapacity of the individual to do his share of hard work, nor against the want of work altogether. National insurance/ if practicable, would give a man a dole after a certain age, but it would be the pittance of the pauper, Protectionism increases the number of industries in a country, and creates steadiness of employment, but it cannot, and does not, pretend to prevent the ultimate competition whioh brings.the weakness of age into confliot with the strength and elasticity of youth. The problem of j the age is to secure the independence of the bread winner at a time when he requires all the powers of vigorous manhood to win the,provision I whioh he and his family needs. How is it to be solved 1 We do not

disparage those institutions winch return interest' upon investments, They are worthy of consideration by the working man who is able to save a portion of his earnings, Life insurance is in itself im admirable means of providing for the family against the uncertainties of life, and appeals with' irrestible force to the prudent man, Every day shows the beneficence of. the system, and how many are saved by it from destitution when the provider is taken away. But all remedies fail before the possession of land, • This is truly and in every sense "The Working Man's Bank." It cannot fail, and if He can only keep out of the, hands of the

mortgagee it will not leave him when he wants assistance, ' Hott small a portion will provide the N family with food I Tho surplus is- at all times exchangable for the necessaries and some; of (he, conveniences of life. It begets the spirit of manly independence, and there is around it the air of both physical and moral health." There js a good deal in the above sentiments with which, we heartily concur, although the probable author of them is the Hon. John Ballance. They were evidently written as' a prelude to a eulogy on Tillage Settle-, ments, but apart from this they are of value.; Every man in the community cannot become a village settler, but every man can make land his jbauk and acquire sooner or later I a freehold, Even in, a town like Masterton • th'e ; tradesman or" the ought, to look. : ,ahead;{o a time when ,a,Qyancing agemaywinpel some -reiai.ajpi pi _ his daily labors, spnie lessening pf hjs power to eara .wages,; ';#lie against that Ifins by ftjfluipg km one, to four; acres, of free£ol4 lo, a. little patch free from debt arid irioumbrance, secured, if needs be, from even hi? ereditors,' he will do a wise thing. To jn&ke.aupjtji provision" is not for mos,fc -people : -thing/ 1 |et probably', accomplish.if, .:jf a'manjiayypre: toputpri'one Bide 6nS threepence - per; 'wdeli only,- and'iripflt j could dp.aa ',\ ntubh-W 1 thiß, hp pouid ;;pcuxmrtate ten

':ssss•jjfty-^pmu'si whipliswould .y6.6iDQpU:tokedni;6 a moeU^^ :bfH^6ld^mtlnni : flonwnien!i;.;ffiS ; : pieo^ : -of-' land- miglit 'ultiuiately becomeyhis bani: Invfl :7towh.■ like, Maaterton tliere ia praptioally' lin unlimited'.. aretof ■■'good land pro-; Curable at reasonable prices we would be gratified to' see'"every adiilt d freeholder, and thoughit is extremely I improbable that even a large percentage of our male population 'will possess Boil in fee aimple, each one o(them has the opportunity, -by. the exercise of a little self-denial, to' become tho owner of a freehold plot where in his old age he may sit down under his own vine arid figtree. : ;