AN OFFER TO THE UNEMPLOYED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8149, 21 April 1887, Page 5

AN OFFER TO THE UNEMPLOYED.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 20. Government being about to offer roadwork and facilities for settlement on certain terms to the unemployed, had a meeting of the latter called, but only thirty-one put in an appearance. Time was given them to consider the offer, and at a” subsequent meeting only three turned up, and the scheme had to be left in abeyance. The terms of the offer made by Government to, the unemployed, to which only three responded, were as follows:—(1) Parties not to consist of fewer than four men each; (2) a tent 10ft by 13ft to be provided for each party; (3) each man to be supplied with or find an axe and cooking utensils, a cross-cut saw and billhook, or, in the case of road formation parties, each party to have two spades, two shovels, and two matlocks; (4) railway passes to be given to the nearest railway station to the works, but the men to find their own way with their swags from the railway station to the spot, tools to be conveyed by dray if there are not fewer than three parties; (5) piece work to be provided at such a rate as to give Gs per day by ordinary labour, but no objection to be entertained should this sum not be earned; (6) land in sections of 10 to 20 acres, according to position, to be laid out for occupation under the Village Settlements regulations, preference _to be given to men who take their families on to the land; (7) the first work to be felling, stumping, and road formation, the price not to be more than 15s per chain for felling 66ft wide, and stumping 33ft wide, in the middle and side cuttings not more than 7d per cubic yard, block cuttings 9d per cubic yard; (8) stores to be supplied by Government, including tents, tools, &c., to be paid for or returned in two months, whares to be erected as soon as possible in lieu of the tents, so that these may be available for other patties; (9) arrangements to be made for fortnightly payments, and for paying 2s per day to the husbands, and 4s to the wives and families if desired.