THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION

Evening Star, Issue 9831, 21 October 1895, Page 4

THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION

'I he debate arranged by the Dunedin, Roslyn, and North-east Valley Parliamentary Unions and the Catholic Literary Society, the University Debating Society, and the Moray place Men’s Institute, which was commenced in the Moray place Congregational Church Hall on the night <.f the 11th inst.. was continued and concluded on Friday. Mr J. B. Callan, of the Dunedin Parliamentary Union, acted as Speaker, and there were over 200 persons present, 'the subject for discussion was the following motion moved at the last meeting by Mr R. C. Touneut—That it is not aduty incumbent upon the Government of this colony to provide work for tlie unemployed, save under exceptional circumstances.” Considerable interest was manifested in the addresses of Miss Freeman (University Society), who delivered an able speech in advocacy of tho motion, and of Mrs Burn (Dunedin Union), who opposed it. The resolution was supported by Mr AY. A. Sim (Dunedin Union), Mr A. Mathesou (Roslyn Union), Mr (J. Bossenoo (University Society), Mr J. A. Ha'ly (Catholic Literary Society), and Mr C. M, Mouat (University Society), and was opposed by Mr J. P. Eager (Oatholio Literary Society), Mr G. Calder (North-east Valley Union), Mr Hood, Mr Sykes, and Rev. W, Saunders (Moray place Men’s Institute), Mr A. H. Burton (Dunedin Union), and Mr Muir (North east Valley Union). Mr Tknnent (Dunedin Union) replied, quoting authorities to show that the poor are not getting poorer and the rich not getting richer, and asserted that in several matters of comfort tho working man’s position is superior to that of a baron of 300 years ago. Looking to the State for continual assistance undermined self-reliance and self-respect, and must result in deterioration of the race. At the conclusion a vote was taken and all present were asked to vote, twenty-nine holding up their hands in favor of tho motion and seventy-five against it, so that the motion was declared lost. The debate was conducted with much vigor, earnestness, and intelligence, and several good speeches were given on both sides. While many of the speakers who opposed the motion strayed into the wider field of Socialism, its supporters generally viewed it from the Individualistic standpoint. The Speaker, in acknowledging a vote of thanks to him for the impartial manner in which be had conducted the debate, said that the fact that six different societies had discussed the question in such an able way was an indication of the intelligence of the community, and showed that a large number of the people were taking a deep iuterest in social aud political questions. He also referred to the benefit to be derived from being a member of a debating society, and urged upon parents to induce their sons and daughters to become members of one, pointing out that by so doing their children would be led to read literature of a profitable kind instead of trashy novels, and' would also be kept out of the way of harm.