THE UNEMPLOYED.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7359, 11 July 1889, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED.

TO THX EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —I see that the usual unemployed demonstrations have commenced, and that the prominent speakers are the same who have posed as unemployed for years. I begin to wonder if an easy living is to be got by being the mouthpiece of the improvident. I shall no doubt provoke a storm of indignation by the term improvident; however, it is none too strong a word for the case. It is all the same to five-sixths of these men whether they get high or low rates of wages, for I know that the great proportion goes to the publican, and not to their wives and families. Steady and reliable *nen still come into this abused colony, and still thsy prosper and make a reputation for themselves, and are in a few years fit to meet a year of no work, and still have money by them — not that the contingency of " no work " is likely to occur in their case. I know by my own observation and by enquiries made, that if a steady good workman settles in any district he is never short of work; in fact, he is usually engaged by some one before he has completed the job he is at. There is undoubtedly real distress in a few cases, brought about by unfortunate circumstances, OV..T which they have had no control; but I say and maintain that had five-sixths of the unemployed, £500 for the summer months, with a distinct understanding that they were to have nothing during the winter, they would be in want before the winter had passed, the money would have gone to the '' house at the corner." It is useless suggesting village settlement, or even a hundred acres of the best land in Canterbury, a man with want of thrift ingrained in him will be in difficulties again, sooner or later. It is a melancholy fac*, pointing to a moral, that in at least three-quarters of the cases before the Supreme Court, one or more of the witnesses i-» a hotelkeeper or a barman. This shows how largely this trade is responsible for crime, and shows what a large hold drinking habits must have on all classes of the community. I write this letter to show the men that the general public know the failing that brings men to dire straits in the winter time, and that the provident attach no serious colonial importance to the temporary winter cry of the thriftless.— Tours, &c, „ Cautious.