THE UNEMPLOYED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 89, 16 April 1896, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

Deputation to the Premier. More Labour Legislation Wanted. [United Press Association. I L j . . Wellington, April 15. the deputation appointed by the unemployed waited on the Premier to-day to ask for work for the winter. ' ' Mr Seddon said it was Impossible to permanently grapple with the diffculty, na unemployed from Australia would keep on coming here as soon as the looal unemployed were absorbed. He objeoted to obaritable aid degrading the recipients, as in the ease of the persons allowed to have been hired out as sandwich men in Christchuroh. He offered th*e deputation the fol lowing alternatives :— (I) Employment on co-operative works in accordance with appropriation; (2) alternative system of putting people on the land; (3) workmen's villages for men having intermittent employment ; (4) destitute persons unable to do hard work might be found special employment on the co-operative system. The Labour Department, Mr Seddon said, would see what could be done to relieve immedi. ftteo wants. Representatives of the unfederated labour unions al6o waited on the Premier in regard to labour legislation promised at Hokitika. limiting juvenile hands, eto. Mr Seddon mado a speech recapitulating most of his West Coast pledges, and covering the same ground. [Mr Seddon was in favour of everything the deputation wanted for the regeneration of mankind in general and themselves in particular, from abolition of distraint for rent to the exolusion of consumptives and Ohinamon.] i In reply to a deputation from the Trades Council Conference, the Premier said he approved of ascertaining how best, to place kauri gum on the markets of the world, but to confine the issue of gumdiggers* licenses to British subjects might cause international oomplioations. . ,