" TRUCK " IN SHETLAND. [To TH2 EDITOR OF THE
"SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In no part of Great Britain has that poison-tree called the "truck system" found a more congenial soil or brought forth bitterer fruit than in these Northern isles. Every decade or so, the Government is disturbed by rumours regarding its pernicious influence on the industrious poor. Inquiries are made and resolutions formed to lay the legislative axe to its root. A few vigorous blows would level it with the ground, but these neither Parliament nor the Executive seem able to give. After a feeble tap or two, they give up the attempt, stupefied and powerless, and it continues to flourish, a curse to Shetland and a scandal to the whole Kingdom. In the Act which was recently passed, the fisherman was left to the tender mercies of the truckers, and the protection granted to the knitter has proved a mere mockery. Although a thousand infringements of the Act occur daily, there have only been three or four prosecutions ; and I have reason to suspect that an-attempt will soon be made to get it suspended or abrogated so far as it applies to Shetland. This will be done by an appeal to the Queen in Council, ostensibly by the knitters, but in reality by the merchants. It is devoutly to be wished that her Majesty's advisers will dismiss the appeal, make the pro- hibition of " truck " in hosiery permanent, and instruct its subordinates to see that the Act is enforced. No special indulgence to swindle ought to be granted to the Shetland mer- chants. If they want hosiery, let them pay for it "in the current coin of the realm," and not force the poor knitter to take trash in exchange.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Walls, Shetland. J. SANDS.
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