POLITICAL ECONOMY OF SOME OF THE WORKING CLASS.

Evening Star, Issue 4437, 19 May 1877, Page 4

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF SOME OF THE WORKING CLASS.

. F . To the Editor. Sm, —All that has been said and written relative to the unemployed question does not Contain one ray of hope for the suffering victims who have been imported at the!expense and through the agency of the Government. We are certainly indebted to those parties who have expressed their sympathy with and played the champion of our cause, but we would prefer to either have a remedy or a’ ahggestion as to what is likely to prove one.. In the absence of that,; we Chall commence business on our own account. First, permit me to ask—What induced us tc come here ? 2nd. What have we found .dlnoe we have come ? 3rd. What prospects lave wp in the future ? 4th. What remedy might be most suitable ? fit. The accredited agents of the GovernMtnt, by wholesale advertisement, by lectures, and by pamphlets, set forth that free passages would be given to eligible parfeies, who would get any quantity of work at high wage*, and, until steady employment was found, the Government would give six er seven shillings per day at certain public works; that New Zealand was the finest climate in the world: that food was very cheap, and that no. poor-houses existed, as cnioh ' were not required. Agricultural laborers and tradesmen were informed that eight hours per day was the slotted space ef time for all kinds of work, and every other condition was painted in snch a manner, that the majority concluded that New Zealand was decidedly a greatly . improved place, and one of the latest editions of heaven upon earth. 2nd. We have .found labor of every description most difficult to procure, and , pearlyall of that unsteady jobbing character Vrhich completely takes away the cream ot what are called high wages. We have ob served exceptional cases of steady work, bat the great majority of employers engage for :que hour, day, or week. Such situations as one might imagine ought to be permanent are frequently open, fis if design had something to do with it. They appear to be made purposely oppressive, so that reports may go forth "indicating so many wants, that the Govbr iment may mercifully bring more hands. We know .of one particular illustration of this system in the person of an old and muchrespected colonist, who has lately tried eight smart, young, experienced farm hinds within one fortnight, but none of them were ; Of the right stamp. They could not Work sixteen hours, and submit to take their meals in twenty minutes. A good hand can always get placed this way for one half-crown. We find New Zealand contains many men of such a character. They will find you work under impossible conditions. However, this little scheme is not confined to labor agents and employers. From substantial facts, we are led to infer that even certain offic als Lave aided in displacing the older hands in order that the latest arrivals might be placed, and have sent many poor men in search of imaginary work, when they must have known well what they were doing. These, and other facts of which we are well informed, lead us to conclude that there has been a well -defined scheme —-mutually understood and acted upon—with a view to flooding the country with laborers at the expense of Government,, the members of which were no doubt aware of what was being done. But then you know property and produce had to be raised in value And labor bad to be brought low, 3rd. Our, prospects are not very bright. The hands of the Government are tied with < debt; they don’t appear to be well qualified , iTo finish such v 0 kg as have been begun ; and they are not likely to commence'any Undertaking that can affect in any degree the-labor market. County Councils : and Road Boards are frail sources of dependence, and will certain I v follow in the wake of the Goverfflnent with their stamp on starvation wages. The general stagnation of trade is inducing many to seek redemption in tbe Bankruptcy Courts. We cannot perceive anything that would justify us in hoping for more than one-third or one-fourth of the advantages we had hoped to possess by coming here unless we strike a new keynote of success, which I think is possible. 4th, What remedy can be applied ? Are there any efforts to be made which might prove commensurate with the requirements of our case ? Can anything he done to raise our fallen hopes, to strengthen the hands of Government, to more effectually develop the natural wealth of the Colony, to remove many of the causes of those three great evils—poverty, crime, and disease—and otherwise promote the general interests of the people. Is there no immediate produc- . tive employment in New Zealand? The answers are short. Instead of permitting the land to be in the hands of a few speculators who kindly provide us with two or three weeks’ work in a year, let the Government and Legislative Assembly see to it at once—that we and our large families are settled on such land under the superintendence of qualified parties appointed by Government to aid and direct such as may pot be versed in the most approved theoriei of agriculture. This scheme, v/ith a moderate outlay, would be reproductive. It would accomplish that which is held to be desirable; viz., extensive settlement upon the land. It is laudable and ought to be a safe investment for Government and others who might lend the necessary funds. The Colony might be co-operative or other-wise. All the details of such a scheme may be a sub- ■ jeot for discussion by better qualified parties, but we think it would be much better to float such a scheme than to have us asking the Governor to appoint a royal commission to inquire into all the circumstances con nected with the emigration scheme, so that we may be enabled to establish such a case as will result in our being returned to our native land with compensation proportioned ; to our particular cases, while those who choose to remain may aid iu paying the additional money, beside the already enormous debt to which .we have become partners. We have simply resolved, on behalf of ourselves and families, to try the effect of a memorial to the General Assembly. Should that fail, wo shall try another and more potent remedy.—l am, &c., A Flax Brsir rurLosoniEu. Dunedin, May 17. . [We publish the above at the request of several working men--not because we agree with the statements dr suggestions.—Ed. E.Si]