THE UNEMPLOYED. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 9, 10 July 1885, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib— l nave been desired to write a few' lines to you on behalf of myself and a large number of men, both married and single, who are unemployed. Some certainly are getting a day or two's work per week, but are, in faot, depending on their wives to maintain them, instead of them maintaining their wives and children. Moreover, sir, it is a well-known faot that there are the majority of workingmen in this and the other large towns of tho colony in tho unenviable condition above described. Sir, I, in company with other two, left this town and tramped and travelled right through the Manawatu railway line, or I might say the ports which arc in formation, through a bush swamp which the line runs through this side of Palmeraton. lam sorry to Bay wo lost one of our companions in the crossing of tho Ohau Rivor, boing swept before our eyes, there having been a slight fall of rain tho night previous ; we were quifco unable to lend a helping hand. I may here state that thero are many lives lost in this country in the bush and in the orossiog of rivers, and often very little is known about them. I may hero state I have seen several suoh oases. Sir, we got no work at Palmorston, and marched i to Marton: and what did we find there? There wero' about 300 mononoamped in tents and wharea, expecting to get employment on Mr. Johnstone'a contract for the twelve milos and o-half formation, North Island Trunk Lino : but Mr. Johnstono, taking advantage of the large numbers around, offered them a prioo per yard whioh ho knew the men could not make tucker at, tho rosult ia tho mon aro now in town or travelling up and down the country lather than submit to bo trod upon and made worse than white slaves. Sir, it ia to behopod the Government will take cognisance ,of tho fact of tb<r numorous delays that aontraotorji make with tho objeof of gaining time in grinding down the working raan-'-in faot, they are Mooming known as " Tuoker Contractors." lam one of the large number who caraa, fat to this country owing to tho free and^nisted emigration, thinking that I mi^JK better my condition. We have boon'' undoubtedly brought ont under faUo representations; certainly wo ore here, and ourselves ana wives and families are suffering untold of hardships and starvation staring ns in tho face. 1 have no doubt thore are some who are probably in fair situations who will not possibly beliove this, because they themselves aro getting sufficient they are under the impression all others should be likewise. It is to be hoped instead of expending more money on immigration that it will be stopped altogether, and the Immigration Offices and Departments abolished, and work given to the unemployed. I am aware there have been a good number of men come from Christohuroh, but they are going all away to Australia, and now if persons wanting houses would look around they will find plonty empty. I am, Ac, James Colville, Adelaide-road. Wellington, 9th Jnly, 1885. [We publish our correspondent's letter as it was reooived, but we must say that we do not at ail aooept his statements as to tho condition of tho labouring olssa generally as boing accurate or correct. In certain directions, employment may be Boaroe, and certain hardships may have to be borne, but the case ia neither so bad nor co general as our correspondent would make oni. On tho contrary, tho vast majority of those able and willing to work find it to do, and have no difficulty in making a good living. — Ed. E,P.I