Untitled

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4021, 26 January 1892, Page 2

The inspection of shearing sheds by constables may, at first sight, be deemed a proper proceeding, but the application of the principle of domiciliary visits to detect insanitary sleeping accommodation may be open to some objection, Probably, within a mile radius of the Government buildings, them arc more persons crowded in unhealthy rooms than are to be found in all the shearing sheds of up-country stations. Ought not city slums to have a preference on the services of. visiting constables over the shearers who are quite, in a position tojielp themselves ?'■ A shearer earns high wages, and if lie desired healthy sleeping accommodation be is quite able to provide himself with a small tent, which, at' this season of the'

year, is an exceedingly comfortable and enjoyable habitation, or be can refuse to work for any employer who does not give bini reasonable quarters, If shearers were unable to help themselves, we should heartily approve of. Government intervention, but it is wrong in principle for a State to relieve this or any other class of workers of the onus of looking after themselves. We believe that, as a rule, shearers are liberally treated'.py their employers, mi it is. quite possible that if the State intervenes to compel managora of stations lo conform 10 out and dried' regutalions, the position of the shearer will not be improved, However, if they want Mr Ballaiice to rock a, cradle for theii, MrSeddon to bring a wanning pan, and Mr M'Konssie to hold a pap bottle to their mouths, they can get these things done for the " pore shearer." They have votes, and perhaps they possess manhood, but if they permit Ministers to coddle them too much they will hardly retain the lalter,