WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9993, 23 March 1893, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

[Pbb Press Association.] DUNEDIN, March S 3. The platform of the Labour Party, which is being circulated for suggestions or approval, contains sixteen planks, as follow 1. A vote to every adult after a month’s residence in the Colony. 2. Every adult householder a right to vote in municipal elections. 3. Local Boards to be elected annually on the Parliamentary franchise. 4. All Parliamentary elections to be on the same day, which is to be observed as a holiday, and all hotels closed. ■>. All education to be free and secular, from the primary school to the university; elementary education to be compulsory up to fourteen, or until a pupil passes the fifth standard; high schools to be open to all who have passed the sixth standard or gained a junior scholarship; education endowments to be under the control of the Minister ; one universal set of standards and one set of school books for the Colony. 6. The State to find employment for all who cannot find it for themselves, such work to be on the co-operative principle. 7. A statutory eight hours day, or fortyeight hours per week. 8. Statutory prohibition of foreign labour under contract. 6. Repeal of the conspiracy laws relating to industrial disputes. 10. Compulsory arbitration. 11. State ownership of land, railways, mines and coastal marine. 13. The creation of an old-age pension fund by means of a progressive income tax. 13. A State Bank of issue. 14. Elective Governors. 15. Abolition of the Upper House and the substitution of a Bevisionary Chamber of twenty-five members elected by and from the House, the whole number to meet together in the event of a deadlock. 16. The drink traffic absolutely conttailed by the people, a poll to be taken periodically in all licensing districts to decide whether the existing licenses if any shall be renewed, and if the vote is against a renewal, all hotels. Clubs, grocers’, bottle and wholesale licenses shall cease to exist in such district for the term j all on the Parliamentary roll to be entitled to vote.

MEETING IN CATHEDBAL SQUABE. Yesterday afternoon a gathering of the unemployed was held in Cathedral square. About fifty workmen and a hoat of others attracted by the speeches were present. Mr W. Powell addressed the assemblage, stating that a very unsatisfactory reply had been received by the Mayor from the Minister for Labour. The reply did not suit them, and they would have to remember that at the next general election, as it was the votes of the working men that bad put him where he was, and if he did nob do something for them they must send him about bis business. He proceeded at great length, and in his usual declamatory style, to denounce the delay in cutting up the Cheviot laud, the management of the charitable aid department, the hospital and local institutions in general. Mr Whiting moved a resolution as follows “ That the working men of Christchurch call upon the Government to immediately put some work in hand, and so provide work for the unemployed, as it was of far greater importance that work should be provided than that the Government should be harbouring up large sums of money to provide a surplus.” Ha had supported Mr Beeves ever since he sought a seat in Parliament, and had seen no reason to withdraw hia support. He had told Mr Beeves that if at any time there should ba reason to differ from him the fault would lie with him (Mr Beeves), and would ba through neglect of his duties. The formation of a Bureau of Labour had dene little or no good, except to find comfortable billets for several favoured men. Ha did not cate what the man was who was out of work, the Government had a right to find him work, and to see that he was able to procure the necessaries of life. The charitable aid administration was lowering and degrading, and ought to be swept off the face of the country, as if there wees any cripples or people unable to work they ought to bo provided for by the State. The surplus that the Government bad got was derived from the Customs duties, to which every one contributed, and they were entitled to have that money spent in : Canterbury, and not all taken to Wellington. Ho hoped the men would all attend at that place every afternoon at three o’clock till the Government had provided some work that they could earn fair wages at near Christchurch. They must demand that, as the men who had been taken from here to the North Island had only earned a paltry pittance, and had not been able to make their way back again.

Mr Powell seconded the motion, and invited the men to remain at the close of the meeting, when they would be afforded au opportunity of signing a paper which the Mayor would take to Wellington for presentation to the Minister for Labour. Work near Christchurch they must have, in spite of what the lion of Kumara had told him on a previous occasion. Ho might add that the Mayor of Christchurch was thoroughly alive to their interests, but there was no work to be given them by the City Council for want of funds. The proceedings then closed, and the men signed their names to a paper as requested.