A CHAT BY THE WAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4466, 10 July 1893, Page 3

A CHAT BY THE WAY.

THE mm FARCE.

(From our"Swagger"Corrcdponddnt.)

Jack:" It is a terriblo state of; affairs' to meet so many men on tho road looking for woik and cannot get any. lam over fifteen years in Neiv Zealand and I never saw so many swaggers."

Francis',"That's a faot old man and fine strapping fellows too, chaps that nould work if thoy got it. and some of them tell me thoyaro married fflonwithlarge families," tho married men mmm employment through the Tabour Bureau? Some papers say that ono hundred married uien are ordered lo Eketahunn to tho Ruil< way works,"

Francis: " Truly they did sond some up there, but wherois the use in sending that number when there nre five times as many starving m Wellington and elsewhere, who linve applied several times to the Bureau and received no reply and some of the ffjttdio wtrf tent to Eketahuna had to IffSTt there ten days, living in a wharf, and had nothing to oat but a few potatoes, while waiting for the man to give them sections to work on,"

Jack'. "When I was passing through Eketahuna some time ago one oi tlio men told me the very same story, and also informed me tliat iho Bureau was a complete farce." Francis: " I think wo can say the same," mate. Why don't thoy put on singlo men as well as married ffion ?"

Jack: " Oh I Tho single men can travel the country, and so long us thoy get a feed and a • slmlie-down ' tbejr are lucky." Francis: " Yes, were it not for the station-liolderß what would the poor fellows do? They would simply starve, and die of exposure." Jack: " Did you hear what wis B&id to tu last night when we asked 1 Qo to tho Governjou ',"it in office I'" : •' Just setm.s.!!«,light, out the old saying is, 1 No man can be wise at all times.'"

Jack: "That's true enough, hut according to what I hear in my travels the working man will act differently next election," Francis:" We have had enough of this conversation, let us change our subject. Did. you hear of the two Bills thoy are going to introduce now ?"

Jack: " No, I did not." Francis: '• The one is a man canDot be imprisoned for a debt unless the amount is £IOO or above, and the other a landlord cannot levy a distress for rent." Jack; " That's all the better for us," Francis: " How can yon say that, I think you must have a tumour on the brain. Under these conditions do youtbinkalaborir will get so mnoh credit as formerly, and where will a working man got a cottage without paying the rent in advance 1 Can you see through it now, old Clan ?"

Jack: " Are you sure that is the C&B6 ?"

Francis: " I read it in tho papers, Jack. I think, old man, the present Government is doing nothing for our BOrtbut everything that injures us." Francis:" According to what I bent from swaggers and men in work, they will havo to take a hack toat next election." ■nbJaikj" Just serving them right. Ilia b'Blfifind we have nowa-days-i/the squatter. Any sensiblo man must say tho same, and the timo is not far distant when wo will repay him for his kindness." Francis i" I wish it wasto-itorrow, Jack: "What time of day do you think it is." Francis: " About three o'clock. ' We will make the next station about five."

Jack: "I liopo tho 'boss' won't nay anything about the Government to os, we are tired of this thing." Francis: " Never mind, old man,wo are sure of a good tea and shake down for the night."