ANTI-POVERTY SOCIETY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2710, 23 November 1889, Page 2

ANTI-POVERTY SOCIETY.

A reporter's life is not a luippy one,

TO THE EDITOK. Sm, —Most people seem to imagine that the life of a country newspaper reporter is a sinecure, and that all he has t.i do is t-> stay at homo enjoying the dolce-far-uiejite, with an occasional half-hour's _ writing, during which he draws upon his fertile imagination. Since rsadiiig a report of tho concert portion of the entertainment lately given at Tauwhare, that appeared in Tuesday's Herald, I cannot wonder at the public arriving at that conclusion. If that report had appeared in your journal I should expect to be hung, drawn aud quartered before the week is out, aud should have hastened to insure my life. The Can tabs arc easily aroused ; I was once threatened with the horse-whip for daring to designat; one of the fair sex a lady instead of a woman —but it did not eventuate ; another tiir.e an irate individual gave me a call at midnight, when I was snug in bed, demanding the name of tho writer of a letter that had appeared in that day's \\ AIK.U'O Tim us ; and only last week it seemed as if the whole town had conspired to circulate a false yarn about tho National Hotel ; and now " Anti-I'overty " comes with his want of sympathy and cold shower baths. 1 think it is'this would-be reformer who shows want of sympathy with him, or he would not have endeavoured to administer such a freezing douche as Ins letter, which appeared in Tuesday's issue, is intended to be. I heiii'tily agree with tho sentiment of the quotation he gives from Coethe, that "though we may promiso to be sincere, no honest man can promise to be impartial," but I should imagine that a reporter would be much more impartial than an individual who had a mania for a particular subject, especially when that identical question is being discussed. The fact is "Anti-Poverty "has become imbued with this cra'/.e, aud" has, what he considers the main features so indelibly lixed on his mind, that he considers anyone who does not agree with him a lunatic, aud if a repmt is required to tit the views of "AntiPoverty," I suspect it will have to oe written by himself, and then I very much doubt if it would be acceptable to the majority of your readers. Seeing that the public of Cambridge did not take much interest in the movement, I thought a short resume of tiie meeting was sufficient, and J. still think so. As to "studiously repressing the main points in each speech, &c," that is mere twaddle and exists only in "AntiPoverty's " mind. Mr (i rilfiths ought to be thankful to "Anti-I'overty " for explaining what he meant, because he said nothing about the land being worth improving "under inoro prosperous conditions," and even granted " more prosperous conditions," I think, and am told by many old settlers that know the countrv, that there is a large area within the eontiseated boundary that will never bo worth improving; and further that much that has been improved will never be worth half the amount that has been expended upon it. The few acres round the townships that lie idle are chiefly owned by absentees, and aro but a drop in the ocean, as compared to tho big estates that are com parativelyidle. Will the one tax cause them to ba worked ! if so, let us have it by all means. The Rev, Garland was present to help on the cause by a speech, and made it; although ho apoligjsed for not being conversant with the subject, " Antj,poverty" says, referring to reporters cold shower bath's, " but, if guided by truth, such ap. plications will tend only to make us more vigorous." Well, sir, I contend that—with the exception of one word that was printed lands instead of plans, (the ambiguous portion) —my report was the truth—but not the whole truth, I did not think it wise to tell it all, or I might have stated that of the 'J"> individuals present, at tho least (1 were what might be termed interested parties, i.e. they wero the promoters of the meeting, and of the remaining 1!) a considerable number were personal friends of the promoters, while a few had been asked to attend and did not like to refuse. Those who canjfi of tlioir own free will and accord were very few, If tljere «to be another meeting, £ should be glad to learn the main points" in ''Anti-Poverty's" hands to deal wjfh ; or perhaps he would not mind giving a few lessons on the matter to The Camjwiiwh Kki'oiu'eu. Cambridge, November 2lst, IStSI)