CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4529, 4 December 1884, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

Tbe Unemployed,

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Having come lately from Mercury Boy, I desire to state that there are no gum-diggers there, either Maoris or white men, making £3 or £4 per week; and further, that I have, been to the gumfields comprising the districts of Henderson, Mill, Taupaki, Lamb's Flat, the Kumeu, Helensville, Scarrott's Run, Ararimu, Kaukapakapa, Dairy Flat, Round Bay, &c and I am positive in stating that not one man in twenty is making anything more than pays for his food. I tried gum-dig-ging, but the lessee and storekeeper said jit was no use, because they all had to leave in debt. I did not get aoove 61bs. weight of gum per day, and as that would not pay for food, I also had to leave at tbe week's end, 8s in debt. Of course it is all chance: one might strike a patch once in the month of 25Ibs. weight or so. There are a large number of men just existing at the gumfields who, if once they knew of any pick and shovel work round town, can come here ! at a day or two's notice, and glad to get the chance. I have also to state that j there are a large number of men perfectly willing to do a fair day's work for a fair day's pay still unemployed. ■ lam aware that the Town Council has let some contracts, and the Harbour Board Mr Lannigan's contract for the dock, within the last three weeks; but the contractors have invariably their- picked men, or some hindrance or delay takes place, and men who bought a pick and shovel and expected a start, are left unemployed. It is.to be hoped that the Council will start the work for the unemployed which was passed two weeks ago at their weekly meeting, and not delay to the injury of numbers of poor destitute men and their wives and families, who, through the bread-winner being out oi work, are in a state of semi-starvation. There is sucb a large floating population in this country that whenever any large contract is let, men are immediately travelling and swagging to the place in droves, and men living in the place are thereby deprived of work. I may add, owing to the stoppage of Mr Macguire's works at Emily Place, a large number of men are thrown out who would otherwise be employed, leaving the outsiders with little or no hope of employment. —Yours, etc., Thomas Pitman, West Queen-street.