THE UNEMPLOYED. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 76, 1 April 1891, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib— Now that the services of a number of officers in the Publio Works Department will soon be dispensed with, it is to be hoped that they will not allow the skill and experienoe they have gained to lay dormant becauße the State apparently cannot retain their services ; but that, on the other hand, they will prove themselves self • reliant men capable of promoting and carrying out some of the many works, whioh it is obvious to everybody shonld be undertaken at onoe if the prosperity of the oolony is to be sustained, apart from inoreased. There is a superabundance of labour available, and the needful capital would be supplied if a sohemo or undertaking that wonld profitably employ some of these in such need of work waa brought forward. As an instance of what might ba most advantageonsly undertaken, I would refer to the scheme proposed by Mr. Bell during- bis candidature at the late elections, viz., " the rendering of waste lands fit for settlement by the State." The State does not appeav disposed to undertake a work of this kind, whioh would be naturally opposed by thoise settlers who in the' past have managed to struggle through without assistance, and whioh moreover oan &■ wel} be undertaken by private enterprise in the future us it has bean in the past. The inducements and profits attached to land settlement are great enongh to entice anybody, and the areas of lands requiring to be rendered productive are sufficient to employ ten tmes our present population, yet hundreds of fint-clasa workmen complain that they are mable to find any employment. It only needs somebody with sufficient knowledge to propound a practical scheme and lay it before the public, inviting their cooperation when it will be supported by thousands only too anxiouß to aasiat in developing any work that will prove of benefit to the unemployed and tho colony in general. Hoping that the officers above alluded to will prove eq-ml to what necessity demands of them for tbeir own sake* as well as that of their fellowmen. I am, 4c., P.M. 28th March, 1891.