THE WELLINGTON UNEMPLOYED.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7868, 20 May 1891, Page 6

THE WELLINGTON UNEMPLOYED.

(By Telegraph.) (from otjb correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 19. ;«Pursuant," says the "Post," "to instructions issued by Mr Redward, who is acting on behalf of the Government, the c unemployed' men who gave in their names yesterday as being anxious to proceed to Pahiatu- on Government road-making contracts assembled at the Government railway terminus this morning at 6.30, and as each man's name was called he took his seat in the carriage. One hundred and thirty had announced their intention of proceeding to the relief works, but this morning only 42 married and 40 single men answered the roll call. Four other men, however, who had not sent in their names, asked and received permission to proceed to Pahiatua, so that the actual number who left on the terms offered by the Premier was eighty-aii. Two or three straggled into *t-k_e x-B__.wa.3r sfcevtio-- j-_ts"fc a__ -fcHei -fezr-bizx pulled st-w__y -rw-n-ir-. -t-hte platform, £-__<*_ so <__: MttiiiiiGin ifsititirffM who had. been desirous of leaving tow—, and were all of them "likely" looking men informed a representative of the " Evening Post" that they were accustomed to road making and navvy work, and expressed their regret that they were unable to get away because, they said, "We can't leave the Old woman and children without a halfpenny or a loaf of bread." The majority of those who left by train to-day appeared a hard-working lot, and probably were of the "handy man" or "rough carpenter" class. Whether, however, they will persevere and face the difficulties attendant on bush falling or road making remains to be proved. One thing is certain and it is that very few of them, judging from the " new chum " style in which they bundled up their swags, appeared to be of the digging or bush class of men, and equally was it manifest that they did not belong to the despicable " sun-downer " or 1 "boozer" order. As the train left the station the men gave three lusty cheers.