The Unemployed at Woodhill.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 200, 26 August 1886, Page 4

The Unemployed at Woodhill.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, - The letter in your issue of tho 24th inst., signed as above, filtoaethor understates the existing state of affaire at Woodbill. For instance, what right havo men to bo misled ? Before starting from Auckland thoy were distinctly given to understand that the work was on dry land. Yet on Tuesday morning all hands aro infoimed that unless they turned to and worked in water and mud—mud, understand, that will sink you to the kneea at every step — unless you do this, there is no work for you at Woodhill. Wo up hero, to a man, aro not amongst those looking for employment and praying not to find it. Mo ; our constant prayer ia to work every working hour of tho day in order to support our wives and families in Auckland. But look at tho result of Tuesday's work of eight hours in tho water and mud. It is that on this Wednesday morning, out of about 120 hands, only 20 or 30 aro able to turn to, and most of theso are urged to do so from the painful and fearful thought that tho voices of thoso that are near and dear to thorn aro crying aloud for broad. And this state of affairs could be altered, as there is plenty of oarth to bo shifted, at which men could earn a day's wages. Why, sir, Monday was pay-day here, and it is a fact that after paying tucker bill scarcely a shilling was left to tho unfortunate man. In one instance thero was only ono ponny, and in another twopence. Sir, let any practical contractor come and look at this creek job, and say if it's fair to a?k men to do the work for a.a per day. It is not, and should be a special rate, so that those that are able ana prefer that work, may receive a fair remuneration fot their labour ; whilst thoso who cannot do this work ought to be found constant employment at shifting earth, as there is plenty that requires shifting. Sir, I trust that your influence in giving publicity to this letter will be the means of the authorities giving tho men up here fair play, and that ia all we require.—l am, &c, Fair Play.

[Tho above lotter is signed by thirteen of the men engaged on these works. -Ed. _.S.]

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — The unkind sneers so recently directed at that suffering body, the unem ployed, come with a bad grace. X am quite aware th{>t there aye b&d sheep in flock, und bad men in every assemblage, Eome bad working men in every city, but these do not justify calling the unemployed " infornal loafers." My desire has boon to relieve distress, compel asgiitance from a reluctant Government, and to secure that attention on the part of rulers which tho merits of the case ct• serve, and which was freely given in other places. I wit-h to point out clearly that the idle and turbulenUy-dioposed who are said to clamour for work they pray heaven they may not get, aro not the class of men I regard as the unemployed—though they are sometimes very prominent the world over in such agitations. I call the steady, industrious men unemployed who, in many cases, endure privations in silence, and would rather die than accept unearned money from anyone. There were anxious faces in the crowd on Tuesday —men with wives and families, and their last shilling gone ; good tradoimen, who should receive our pity and our help—not our sneers Sneers will not fill their hungry children's stomachs nor clothe their bodies For the rakes of many deserving fami'ies in deep poverty, I have done my best, and shall continue so to do ; but I am not representing the men who will not work when thoy have a fair chance, and of whom I think there are not many.— Yours, &c, F. Jeune.