Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-10-30
LABOR CONDITIONS NEW ZEALAND
II. c. Millard Writes interestingly Of
Far Off Land.
lCoNrINuEp FRoM LAsr wEEk.

sentiment against any higher education
than that afforded by the primary
school. At any rate it is the universal
rule as soon as they are fourteen years
old, Or have graduated from the pri-
mary school, they seek some employ
ment. unless they are designed for one
of the professions. As soon as they
commence work or enter ON their APP
premiership they begin to draw pay
though premium is required if they
are apprenticed. From the time they
begin work they come under the mass
of acts of the state regulating their
every action as well as their treatment
By their employers. The practical eff
feet is they cease to be under but a
very nominal control by their parents.
So far as can see this,is bad; il certainly
is so idging by the condition of things
as it actually exists here today, though
it is open TO question whether things
would be any better here were they to
remain under parental control few
years longer. The primary schools are
all well attended and | have noticed as
the youngsters came trooping out at
close Of sessions, they are all bright,
clean. and neatly dressed. but it seems
too bad that..just at the age when they
are ~ condition to acquire useful men
tai aud moral knowledge, they should
be deprived of the privilege by reason
OF the peculiar state of affairs existing
whereby they practically pass from the
control of the parent TO that of the
state
Another noticeable custom here is the
shutting out OF view the house and
lawn by high stone wall, tight hedge,
or board fence. For city of this size
there are comparativly few fine dwell
ings, though there are many fine lawns.
As | am out TO see all / can, | have
stopped many times and rubbered
through the closed and locked gates and
often discovered a fine laid out and well
kept lawn. No doubt this is custom
adopted here, made necessary back
home where they come from. The
finest houses are occupied 10y physicians.
That led me 10 make some inquiries
which resulted in the conclusion that
they are enjoying the next thing TO a
gold brick lay While thev are skilled
the scale Of charges arc enormous and
their incomes enables them to live in
great style. All wages must be paid
weekly, all rents, board, etc, are also
by the week, hence Saturday afternoon
and NIGHT is busy time. Upon being
inforned that the credit system was
universal began TO ask why; the con-
cldsion is that as a rule everybody rs
living fully up TO their income, that all
debts contracted outside of groceries
are paid in weekly lnstallments, and II
is rare exception TO have any money
left after paving up Saturday nights
IS 10 tsttu 50
thoroughfare. it is about three-quarters
of milr loRg and extends from the
wharf back and up what was a gully.
1t Is the only street in the city paved
with asphalt and lit by electricity; il is
kept clean by little boys with scoops
and brushes who clean up the droppings
as fast as they are made. IL is an in
teresting sight 10 see the mass of peo
pie parading up and down this street
Saturday evenings. ! have seen the
crowds so large that the sidewalks We're
oVeriioWed clear to street car tracks ON
both sides. Salvation army bands,
string bands, hand organ, etc, on many
of the side streets, all working away
for dear life The shops are throngcd,
but the majority 81 ems to he out mseriy
to be seen. At various points political,
religious and temperance speakers are
holding forth to crowds who are CON
tinually coming and going. This is the
or'v street in the city lat ~ electricity
an that is furnished by the tramway
company Street ears are called trans
here. The reason why there is no pub
s;e electric lightning is because too
many of he men IN power own stock
in the gas plant, and their influence, so
far, has prevented the corporation in
staling plant or granting franchise
to a private company. The tam COM
pany's 5 lights in the center of the street
between the tracks, together with the
numerous lights under the awnings
covering the side walks, makes the
street rery brilliant at night. The
crowds are augmented by large NUN
ber Of persons who have custom Of
coming to the city Saturdays by boats
and rail from the country towns TO
spend Sunday The cr0wl is, by rea-
son of being mostly on pleasure bent
and dressed in their best, good natured
The only duty the numerous police have
TO S1Tform is 10 look after the drunke
Still there are not many Of them till
after the bulk Of the crowd has gone
home. "he way the cities are policed
here, in ~ opinion, is better than Ours
The force is under the government and
over the whole country with the chief
at the capital city. Each city has
division commander and the men are
housed in buildings belonging to the
government Their only occupation is
to arrest law breakers. IL they get to
well acquainted they are moved to some
other part Of the country, therefore
they have no occasion to meddlc IN local
political affairs. There seems TO be too
many of them AT over the country at
every little hamlet. at every little one
horse railway station, they are IN evi-
dence. arrayed i'm a splendid uniform.
Should Wisconsin aiopt the system as
extensively as this country has Il would
take about 4 quarter of a million mon.
have not seen a top buggy or
surrey IN New Zealand and a very few
-four wheel cOnveyances aside from cabs.
The universal rig IS large wheeled
cart and about double the weight Of one
of our ordinary top buggies. Many Of
the more pretcntious carts can acc0mo-
date four persons by sitting back 10
back. the two facing the rear resting
their feet on the partly lowered end
gate. Every city IN this country even
down 10 and smaller than Eiroqua has
one or more public parks. The city of
Auckland is well supplied with parks
there being fiye. two OF them regularly
and another occasionally are used for
athletic sports All the year round on
Wednesday and Saturday afternoon they
are fully occupied. In summer. cricket;
during the winter season with games
~ II t.rossaa bockry .tud fnpt hall the.