THE UNEMPLOYED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15716, 8 September 1911, Page 9

THE UNEMPLOYED.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME

MINISTER

INQUIRIES BETNG MADE,

About,twenty unemployed waited on tho Mayor at noon yesterday to obtain tho reply of tlio Prime Minister to the telegram sent tho previous day, Kinging the position under the notice of the Government. Tho Mayor read tho following message from Sir Joseph Ward:—"l am sorry to hear that there are so many men out of employment in Christchurch at present. 1 am making inquiries, with a view to seeing if work cau be found for them. I hope to wire you early to-morrow.” Tho Mayor informed the members of the deputation that ho would bo pleased to meet the deputation again at noon to-day and to communicate to them tho Primo Minister’s second message

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As an out-of-work I attended tho meeting in the Square yesterday, expecting to hear some lucid schome brought forward whereby those in dire distress might he helped to obtain work, but 1 was disappointed.' Your paper called it a Revolutionary Socialistic meeting, and so it was, but remember, hungry, workless men feel keenly when they see so much of what they produce wantonly squandered and they in want. Once you get down there is a possibility of being trampled upon even m “ God’s Own Country.’’ Charity is not a thing to envy, as it often has a demoralising effect. Every man and woman should have a right to work, but often the “ worker ” rules otherwise. But wo don’t improve matters by reviling tho men and women who are fortunate enough to possess motor-cars. Are we not striving every day for betterment? Many of the workers of today will be the employers of the future, and won’t they b© tyrants? Humanitarianism goes when power comes. Does tho worker really care whether his brother or sister sinks, so long as he gets on? I have not seen much of the “ brotherly love ” Mr Jones would have us believe exists amongst tho workers, except with "the “very poor.” Perhaps he does not come across the parasito worker earning his Is 4d per hour bartering with the shopkeeper for the Gd per hour, article made by his sweated sister. My Union compels us to join, but has two rates of pay—men Is per hour, women 8d per hour. Our award says: “There shall bo a fair distribution of work among all operatives, botn male and female,” but apply for such, and your marching orders follow. Idleness helps nobody, and oft-times fosters revolution. Wc don’t want strikes, but if our employers lock or starve" us out, then there is nothing else. What a cosmopolitan crowd wo were yesterday ! Men that" used to bo workers, now living retired upon the rents of their many houses: others that have been kind to their fellows; some afraid to pet work: a few living at the expense of us poor deluded fools, thirsting to irritate the Mavor so that the horse might kick. Don’t let that reporter' sav so much' of our “silver watches ”at the next meeting. Who knows? They mierht just have come from “ Uncle's.’’ Hoping the municipality of citizens will help us,- —-I am, etc.,

BUT FOR HOPES, HEARTS >YOULD BREAK. September 7.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—To b© misreported in the capitalist Press is regarded as the highest of compliments by a disseminator of truth. Therefore it is with boundless gratification that I thank you for reporting all I did not Eav an d leaving out all that I did say.—l am, etc., ‘ W. IvILGOUR.