The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3083, 19 April 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1892.

The abstract principle must be accepted that it is to the advantage of the State and the individuals immediately concerned that those who are honestly seeking employment and those who require help should be brought face to face. Like every other principle, however, good or evil will be worked by its adoption, proportionate to the wisdom, or the want of it, displayed in the conception of incidental details. We notice that it is the intention of the Government to issue from the Labour Bureaux coupons, value sixpence each, to men who apply and express their desire to travel through the country in search of work. Each coupon is to entitle the holder to a bed or a meal. We see no objection to the system, provided it is hedged round with the most stringent precautions against imposture. If these coupons are to be issued indiscriminately in the first instance, and no check exercised over their subsequent use, we see a serious danger ahead—the creation of a class of professional loafers—no longer "sun-downers," because they will not require the plea of approaching darkness as an excuse for begging free quarters, supper and breakfast. They will boldly present their bit of Government paper and demand that which they require. This will be an improvement as far as the keepers of the accommodation houses are concerned, as they will receive Is 6d for that which they are at present very often constrained to give without hope of fee or reward. We have not before us the details of the scheme, but if they are one whit less stringent than those we are about to sketch, evil and not good will result. The man applying should state what district he purposes travelling, what employment he seeks, and what wages he is prepared to work for. This, with a description of the man's personal appearance, should be filled into a paper and given him. In fact, it would be better were the coupon attached to the margin giving these particulars, each coupon being perforated as are postage stamps, and instructions issued to the hotelkeepers to see that the coupons given to them are torn from the block. Notice should be sent to the constable of the coupons issued for exercise in his district, who on application would give the information to those requiring labour. It would of course be the duty of the person in charge of the issuing bureau to keop himself informed of the state of the labour market in the different sections of his district. When convinced that an applicant could not get the work he requires, or the wages he asks, he wjuUl of course refuse to issue coupons; also if it were manifest that the man was unfitted for the work named. In the event of the work the coupon-holder is impliedly in search of being offered to him and hn refuses to take it he should be immediately arrested under the Vagrant Act and receive a lesson at the hands of Justice that will convince him that it is not safe to loaf on the public, even with a Government coupon as a cloak. It will no doubt be asserted by those who think with the supporters of the Government, that such stringent regulations as we have sketched would be derogatory to labour, but wo assert that such an interpretation is not sustainable, as well assert that our criminal laws are derogatory to every citizen. They are enacted for the criminal classes and the respectable citizen has nothing to fear from their enforcement; unfortunately, it is impossible to urge that they" are unnecessary. We maintain that the stricter the regulations under which these coupons are issued the leas should be the

hesitancy of the legitimate seeker aftiT work in applying for them. We fire not with those who think that the very people who are entitled to coupons are those who :ire alisolutt-.ly penniless—in fact one or the main objects in view should be to prevent men who are in clanger of so becoming, being reduced to the abject position of receiving charitable aid for themselves and families, the little timely assistance proposed would in many cases have this effect. We notice that a Napier contemporary has condemned the scheme in the most uncompromising manner because in the circular issued to the police, to bo read to the hotel-keepers to induce them to accede to the terms, it is urged that the men would in all probability spend a shilling or two in drink. This was certainly very injudicious, and a reflection upon the class proposed to be served. We are of opinion that if the precautions we have pointed out are taken, and rigorously acted up to, that much good, at little cost to the country, will accrue. In their absence, we have no hesitation in foretelling that the country will be overrun by every city loafer who can muster sufficient resolution to drag himself away from his favourite leaning-post at the public-house corner. Let us not be misunderstood : we have heartfelt sympathy with the legitimate unemployed, and we feel confident that our remarks will have their concurrence, as they will the condemnation of the counterfeits.