THE SOCIAL PROBLEM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2503, 26 July 1888, Page 2

THE SOCIAL PROBLEM.

«_ TO THB EDITOR. Sir,—ln reading Mr Graham's letter ro Charitable Aid Board, I am not surprised to read that he is convinced that thu Act is dimmed to failure. It was difficult to understand the Act when first before tha country, the Auckland Board were so eonfounded as to its meaning that legal opinion was sought (at great expense to the workers of this colony) to have the Act explained, which added to the cost of the Act to be made, it would amount to many thousands of pounds. It was hatched by a lawyer for the benefit of lawyers, and the State's duties to the poor was only of a secondary consideration. The truth is, we need no such Act if our laws were natures laws, which declares if a man will not work neither shall he eat. Mr Graham believes in H. V. Mills'proposal, i.e., co-operative estates being one of a family, whose parents were robbed 95 per cent, of their true earnings, and ultimately of their lives, I know something of the Poor Law Actinlingland. Having been nine years in a workhouse where Mr Mills' ideas were tried to a certain extent, in so far that looms were bought, and the children were taught weaving, but the weavers declared that they could not compete with pauper labour, which cost little more than a basin of skilly for breakfast. So the weaving was stopped. Then rope-making was tried. Then the rope-makers complained, and said that every 1000 yards of rope turned out by the paupers meant the discharge of a proportion of rope-makers, which would also become paupers. So rope-making was stopped. Then tho authorities hit upon something that was thought would hurt no trade; that was basket-making, as there did not seem to be any basket-makers about that part, and plenty of material at hand for making baskets. After a while a family came to the workhouse for admittance, as they were basket-makers, and since tho workhouse took to basket-making, their occupation was gone, as trade would n»t come to them they must come to trade. So banket-making was abolished. Ultimately Co-operation was started inasmuch that about 5 acres of land were hired where the boys were taught to dig and cultivate. On an average 35 to 40 boys were engaged, who produced potatoes and vegetables sufficient for n family of 70 or 80 all told. The girls made the boys shirts, the small boys and girls knitted sucks, some of the bigger boys made the boots, but the great draw back was £3 per acre fur rent. It was rent or the plundering of the wealthproducers, by the wealth consumers, or the idlers robbing the industrious of the fruits of their labour, that was the cause of a large majority of those orphans. If the parents of those children had only a tithe of what they produced, they could have had sufficient to have fed and clothed themselves and children. Instead of looking at all sides of a loaf, twirling and turning it to see which way to make the most of it, and then putting it in the cupboard, being only half fed with hard work, brought many to an early grave. Henco the pauper, henco the poor law, let us strike at the cause of poverty, and let us have nature's laws made State laws.—l am, etc., T. Carless. Huntly, July 21st, 1888.