J. OKER'S DREAM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3033, 22 December 1891, Page 3

J. OKER'S DREAM.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sin,—M-iny n true word i.i Hpokcn in jest, and lliu laboured pleasantry of "One of tho Lower Order*" on J. Oker's dream, furnishes "» instance The writer Bays—of coumb in Bivrcnsm—" What thoy might to biivii done, whh to huvti returned men (to the Honsi-) of tho higher orders, because those enlightened mid benevolent men understood the requirements of the benighted Mower orders ' much better than they themselves could possibly havo done." Will "One of the lower orders " permit ine tn remark That a very large number will cordially agree with him. Indeed he might havo safely have gono further, and added, "but instead of doin« this, they picked such lenders, that had the avowed object of tho 'lower orders,' (anionic whom, by the way, if the term means those who labour for their living, I must include myiolf), beon to ruin their country, and thoir future prospects, they could not possibly havo betn more successful." It is worthy of note, that some of their most capable men left directly they saw the class antagonism displayed, and the suicidal nature of their prcrposals. What the colony needs, is for its handful of inhabitants to work together. There are none too many of us, and it will take us all ourUmo to pull through. There is in New Zealand an ample field for the profitable employment of almost unlimited quantities of capital and labour, but unfortunately we have a number of individuals who prefer idleness to hard work. Any class agitation, which enables them to get hold of the reins suits them admirably, and setting one class against another seems to be their leading card. If, however, the exedus is the means of getting rid ,)f some of them, its evils will not havo been altogether unmitigated. There are as good opportunities to-day, for industrious men and women to make a living and acquire an independence in the colony, ah there over were, though singularly enough, these opportunities are not to be found at the street corners. It has become the fashion to rail at capitalists, companies, etc., as the cause of all our troubles, but I say that the man who has been in this colony for some yoais, and is not in a position to snap his fingers at any of thsm, has in the majority of cases, had either real bad luck, or only himself to blame. It has been easy come, easy go, and now we want to put the responsibility upon someone else. But all the same "J. Oker's " dream »ill not come off. The common sense of colonists has not altogether fled. Once the bone and sinew of the country realise that under the name ot Liberalism, their earnings and sayings fur many hard years, are to be quietly confiscated by agitating loafers, they will wake up, and straighten matters again.— I am, etc., E. C. Shepherd,