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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Personal Volume

Conclusion

Conclusion.

This is one of the social evils which it will take ages and ages to get rid of, and it will only be got rid of finally, not by trusting to legislative means, but by raising the standard of living of the people, by educating the people, and by promoting culture amongst the people. Let us look to our Statute-book. It is enough to make us cease to believe that anything can come by merely passing laws. If you look at our Statute-book you will always find an amending Act the preamble of which says that all previous Acts have been failures. No great social reform can ever come from State interference. This I cannot better illustrate than by quoting a passage from one of the greatest of living men, who says: "You see that this wrought-iron plate is not quite flat; it sticks up a little here towards the left—' cockles,' as we say. How shall we flatten it? Obviously, you reply, by hitting down on the part that is prominent. Well, here is a hammer, and I give the plate a blow as you advise. 'Harder,' you say. Still no effect. 'Another stroke.' Well, there is one, and another, and another. The prominence remains, you see. The evil is as great as ever—greater, indeed. But this Is not all. Look at the warp which the plate has got near the opposite edge. Where it was flat before it is now curved, A pretty bungle we have made of it. Instead of curing the original defect, we have produced a second. Had we asked an artisan practised in 'planishing,' as it is called, he would have told us that no good was to be done, but only mischief, by hitting down on the projecting point. He would have taught us how to give variously-directed and specially- page 10 adjusted blows with a hammer elsewhere—so attacking the evil not by direct, but by indirect actions. The required process is less simple than you thought. Even a sheet of metal is not to be successfully dealt with after those common-sense methods in which you have so much confidence. What, then, shall we say about a society? 'Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?' asks Hamlet. Is humanity more readily straightened than an iron plate?" I say to those who imagine that pauperism and all other social evils are to be got rid of by putting an enormous amount of taxation on the people, that they are trusting to something which must end in utter failure. How, then, it may be said, are we to help forward this great movement? I believe we will help forward thrift, and get rid of poverty by means such as these: by educating the people up to this question, which demands solution from us; by expending our enthusiasm on this subject, and not on every subject; by recognising our responsibility as individuals, so that each one of us in the democracy recognises that he does not act for himself, but that it is his duty to act for others. If each one of us acted in the capacity of a moral guide, and adopted the maxim of Kant, and so acted that his actions might form a law unto humanity, what a different nation we would be! If we as a nation are ever to get rid of poverty, crime, and vice, we must not only incline to individualism, but we must each of us try to live his life so as to act as a guide to those among us who may be physically, mentally, and morally weak. Doing these things would do more to promote a true democracy and to raise humanity than to assist some in getting getting rid of the duties of property, and casting on the working men this enormous burden of taxation.—(Loud and continued applause.)

Mr J. W. Jago had had the honour and privilege of moving a few nights ago a vote of thanks to Major Atkinson for his discussion of this great and important question, in which the present and future welfare of this Colony is involved. He had been asked again by gentlemen upon the platform to do a like duty on this occasion, and he did it as freely and heartily as before. He would not say whether or not he agreed with Mr Stout, as in the case of Major Atkinson, but he thought both had done a great service to the community. The whole question was one of very great difficulty, and required much thought and serious discussion; and any gentleman who aided the ultimate solution of the matter, as he thought Mr Stout had done, deserved the thanks of the community. He would propose a vote of thanks to Mr Stout for his address.

Mr W. D. Stewart, in seconding the vote of thanks, said that everyone who contributed to the information of the people on the problem of poverty was entitled to thanks. He need scarcely say that he had given this matter some little consideration, and keenly appreciated its difficulties. The scheme propounded by Major Atkinson, to his (the speaker's) mind, would tend to foster poverty, and not to prevent it.—(Applause.) He thought that a great many of the suggestions and arguments advanced by Mr Stout were not only plausible, but well founded.—(Applause.)

The vote of thanks was carried unanimously, Mr Stout said: I thank you very heartily for the vote which you have unanimously passed. I have to regret that in consequence of the number of the subjects I had to [unclear: conden] a great deal that I had to say, I will ask you now to join with me in a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding over this meeting.

The vote was carried by acclamation, and the meeting dispersed.

Printed at the "Otago Daily Times" Office, Corner of High and Dowling streets, Dunedin.