THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 273, 19 November 1887, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION.

Members' Views of the Difficulty.

Tho problem of tho unemployed difficulty continues to exercise the minds of Ministers and members alike. Yesterday afternoon, in asking whethorGovernment will give immediate effect to the recommendation of Uio Public Petitions Committee that tho Suraner railway be put in hand, as the best means of providing puitablo work for the unemployed of Christchurch and suburbs, Ml' I'ercival said that the question was one of extreme uegoncy. The Mayor of Chrisbchurch had telegraphed to him that day that he had communicated with the Minister for Public Works, directing his attention to tho necessity of at once establishing suitable relief works handy to Clnistehuteh. Government had already provided some piecework for the unemployed of that place, including tho formation of a road near tho Clarence River, but this had been found to be entirely unsuitable to married men, who could not wave any money from it to send to thoir wives. Tho Promier said no donbt there was a great doul of distress in Christchurch, and that a great many deserving men wore out of employment. Dealing with tho question presented very great difficulties, for experience had shown that directly work wuh provided near the towns men ilocked in from the country, protamine to be in great dig trees. Members of Canterbury Labour Bureau, men who wore appointed by the late Government, and who were in every respect to be relied on, had wired as follows : —" Bureau linda Iheru im still room for fifteen men at Kaikoura - Clarence Road, and would recommend complement bo increased thoro to 160. To sliow the suitability of this employment, which men dispute, Bureau finds men there who have been able to send wives and families from £'3 to £4 per month. Arrangements —put on at stonenbreakiog on Monday next; all casoe of emergency. Bureau thinks that, considering the present dearth of employment, it might be advisable to pet tho working plan of a section of tho proposed Sumner railway pushed forward ; it is difficult to estimate the number of men that are really destitute, but fully 160 aro out of employment.— Jons H. Bakkb." Government had contemplated at one time making the MauntSumnerniilway, as they wore anxious not to separato the married men from their families ; but. they had found this work was not authorised, and as they would be clearly breaking the law in proceeding with it, a special Act would be required before the work could be gone on with. While Government were anxious to separate families as little as possible, they must also see their way not Lo increase the paupers. Mr Lance remarked he had visited the relief works at Kaikoura on more than one occasion, and found 97 of the unemployed working there. Although the conditions of men wore as varied aa possible, ho never witnessed a more happy family. Men were paid by results, some receiving 2a 6d per day and others 7s 6d, yet he never heard a single complaint of any kind. iSir George Grey moved the adjournment of the House to draw attention to the large amount of distress existing throughout the colony. Upwards of 1,000 people in Auckland had petitioned for employment, and they knew that there was a great deal of suffering in Chrisbchurch. The Government had not devised any plan to put an end to this state of things, and it was their duty to do so. Before they separated some plan might bo devised to settle tho people on the land. The late Government had brought forward a scheme which was spoiled by bad regulations. Mr Ward seconded the motion with the object of drawing attention to the large number of unemployed in Southland. If the Government would reduce the pride for the- carriage of firewood from Seaward Bush to 5s per ton, employment to a large number of men would be given. Messrs Taylor, Fish, Jones, Bruce, Sir J. Vogel, and tho Hon. Mr Fisher took part in the discussion*. The Minister of Education reminded Sir J. Vogel of the fact that the unemployed difficulty existed in the protective colony of Victoria as well as here, and asked him if he had not read of the deputation of the unemployed to Mr Deakin, who turned a deaf ear to them.

Mr Moss interjected that these people came over the bordor from New South Wales, and Mr Fisher retorted that this was " too thin." He also charged Sir G. Grey with an attempt to misrepresent the answer of the Premier on this matter.

Mr Lance protested against any system of handicapping being undertaken by the Government in giving work to the unemployed, and Mr Hobbe referred to the fact that the late Bs«mier told the Chrietchurch unemployed that it was no part of the duty of the Government to find work for them, and he did not think the present Government should be embarrassed in this matter. The debate was brought to a conclusion by the dinner adjournment.