Original Correspondence.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1264, 27 April 1883, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

MR. SHAW ON THE WAGE-EARN-ING CLASS.

«^ (To the Editor, Inangahua Times.) Sir.-- I was very glad to read your trenchant criticism on Wednesday last, in reference to Mr Shaw's views on the condition of the working men in the colony. I was wondering whether such an extraordinary statement as made by the candidate would be allowed to pass unchallenged in a democratic constituency like this, and the thanks of the electors are due to you for laying this matter so clearly before them. If we ask ourselves to-day why it is that pauperism has already become a leading cry in this young country where nothing of the kind with proper legislation should be heard of for fifty or a hundred years to come, the answer undoubtedly is, because of the prevalence amongst I the enemies of the working classes of view regarding the working man such as Mr Shaw- has- enunciated. How can the working men of the colony ever expect relief from legislators who believe that the working men of New Zealand are better off than those of any other country in the world ? A prosperous and contented | people is the very highest attainable re- ; result of good Government, and Mr ;*haw I tells us that we are prosperous in a high J degree, or if we are not so, it is our own | fault, and not the fault of either the Government or the country. I say, sir, such a view as this is an outrage to our intelligence. Do we not know, that throughout the whole of the goldfields of the West Coast, there are hundreds of as decent, as honest, and as industrious men as ever Mr Shaw was, who are, and have been for years, toiling from year's end to year's end, living sparingly and soberly, who are unable to even decently clothe them • selves. P contend, the opinion of Mr Shaw, is utterly insupportable, and is just the sort of opinion that led to the flooding of this country with the sweepings of the Home country. I say, that Mr Shaw, or any person holding such an opinion as to the position of the industrial class of this colony, is au enemy to the working man. Apologising for having trespassed at such length upon your space, I will now close, but with your permission return to the subject at another time. Yours etc., LABOR, not CAPITAL. Reefton, April 24th, 1883.