THE UNEMPLOYED. DISSATISFACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THINLY-VEILED THREATS.

Evening Post, Volume LI, Issue 64, 16 March 1896, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED. DISSATISFACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THINLY-VEILED THREATS.

In response to an advertisement appearing! in Saturday's papers, some 60 odd of the .unemployed of Wellington this morning assembled at the Forward Movement Hall in Manners-street. Mr. W. A. -Evans presided. Those present were ohiefly of the labouring classes, but there were also afew clerks, &c, in attendance. Mr. Murphy, Acting-Secretary, explained that the meeting had been called to disouss means of finding employment for the large number of men out of work in Wellington at the present time. It had been computed, he said, that there were 300 men out of work here, and as nothing- was being done for them it had been deoided to combine to foroe the handß of tho G overnment to provide work. He thonght the proper course would bo to consult the local members of Parliament and form a deputation to wait on the Government. Mr . Evans gave a brief outline of the history of the movement to assist the unemployed which hod been started here some time ago. The Premier, he said, had been interviewed on the subject and had promised assistance, and in order to show that he was in earnest hod offered to find employment for twelve of the most destitute of the workers on the list. The way in whioh the men out of work gave way to thoso in worse circumstances, than themselves in making the selection of that twelve men, Mr. Evans said, brought to light a magnificent trait iv the character of the working men of this oolony. These twelve men had been found work, but there were many menyetremuniog who urgently needed it. The publio of Wellington did not realise the state of destitution and distress whioh many of the unemployed have reached. He was sure that if they did know they would lend ready co-operation and assistance. It was not the intention of the unemployed to harass the Government ; but they wanted a straight answer from it as to what its intentions were, and they wanted straight answers, too, from the Labour Bureau. Communication had been held with Christohurch and Dunedin, and the answers received showed that the unemployed difficulty existed in both thoae towns. He understood that something was being done in the way of putting the men on thaJand near Christohuroh. What was now proposed to be done was to organise tho unemployed of the oolony, get pnblio opinion on their side, and no Government dare fly in the face of pnblio opinion. He urged, however, that if they wished to attain these ends they must unite and firmly stand together. (Applause.) Mr. Taylor expressed regret that the unemployed of the oity had not studied their interests and attended in larger numbers. He believed in agitation— (applause)— and if it was necessary they Bbonld get savage over it. Mr. J. W. Simms, wh*o had just arrived from tho South, said the Government would do nothing for the unemployed, but was trying to place the responsibility on tho shoulders of the locU authorities. Tho speaker detailed the state of destitution prevailing amongst the unemployed of Christchuron, of whom, he said, there were large numbers, and went on to add that he was authorised to state that if something was not done for the unemployed iv the immediate future porhaps there would be "an event take place that would be historical in the colony's history." (Loud applause.) Mr. Evans hoped that the men both of Christohuroh and of the other parts of the colony would exhaust all constitutional means before allowing disorderly oonduot in any form. Another speaker complained of the work of the L&bonr Bureau. Instead of the officers of the department giving information to the men applying for work thoy stuck up a notice outside the door, " No men required to-day." It was deoided to ask the members for the City, Dr. Newman, M.H.8., and the Mayor to attend a meeting of the unemployed at the same place on Wednesday evening. Mr. W. Jones, Secretary of the New Zealand Workers' Union, did not see any uso in asking the City members to attend. They were not the working men's 'friends at all. Tho Government should be approaohed on the subject. They were in a manner of speaking on their last legs, and unless they did something for the unemployed at once, they would not come back to office again. Tho Chairman and Mosßrs. W. Jones, Murphy, and M'Bride were appointed a doputation to wait on the gentleman mentioned and ask them to attend. On tho suggestion of a worker present, it was deoided to admit casual workers to the organisation. One man present said something would iave to be done by the Governmont. He had heard of people starving, but he was not going to starve so long as there was a sheep in the country— a sentiment which met with mnoh approval. He waa for immediately interviewing the Governmont, and seeing what was intended to be done. Mr. T. Coffey said this would be of no use. What did Seddon oare about themP He would bluff them as ho had bluffed the oonntry. (Applause.) There were signs of a heated discussion at this stage, but the Aoting-Seoretary threw oil on the troubled waters, remarking that they did not oome there to discuss Mr. Seddon but the unemployed difficulty. After further disousaion as to the aotion to be taken, tho meeting adjourned until Wednesday evening. Already some 120 persons have signed the list being prepared of the unemployed of the

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