THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9176, 6 August 1895, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OY THE PRESS. Sir, —I have been patiently waiting to see if any of our Labour members moved in the matter ot fiuding permanent work for our unemployed iv our natural resources (as Ido not see any movement). I now wish to give the third series of resource: Prospecting for gold and other minerals. I am told there is a vast held and good prospects held out if only encouraged in the right way; and our Government again, even in this, hold the main spring which should give life to it. I will give you my experience of what our neighbours are doing. Being anxious to learn all 1 could en my trip iv the most certain and practical way I applied to the Labour Bureau for a job. I was sarcastically asked if it was a light job I wanted. I thought a light job would suit mc best if there was money in it • but I must have money, as it was the only incentive I ever had for work. I was then informed they would give mc a pass to prospect for gold, and if I did any good I was to refund expenses, aud if unsuccessful at one place they would give another until successful, and that over 80 per cent, refunded the expenses, aud that the Government was giving evety possible assistance to anyone that could employ labour (and what is our Government doing?). It is too long a tale to tell you all that p.issed ; but, sir, the proof is they turned out more gold last year than was ever turned out in the palmy days of Bendigo. This has been entirely through the Government and a number of syndicates sending out prospectors to lessen the number of unemployed. It is our dormant resources that must be opened out to pay our ever-increasing taxation for borrowed money. Another resource I noticed they had opened as well as us, but in a much more practical way—the settling of the land—and which stands at 18 in my series, as being that dislance in practical relief for the labourer. It is strange we cannot see ourselves as others see us.—Yours, &c. Edwin A. Lock.