THE UNEMPLOYED.

Northern Advocate, 3 December 1887, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

Amongst the curiosities of Government we must class the proposition of the Minister for Public Works to use the unemployed of Auckland in constructing ornamental carriage drives in the Domain. When we remember the fact that to the recent resolution of the County Council a reply was given that no assistance could be rendered to road making:, either by grants or lay rating Crown lands; when we remember the terrible straits to which settlers are reduced for want of roads, it seems passing strange that any sane man can, even for a moment, think of such a proposition. Think of it, ye settlers, who have to struggle through bog and mire until you have become well nigh amphibious — you who, for lack of roads, are thrown back into a state of semibarbarism — the taxes you pay are to be spent, not in making roads which would recoupe tenfold the outlay j but in beautifying the property of the Domain Board, who have endowments sufficient to effect all that is necessary. Mr Thompson deserves our thanks for the course he has pursued in respect to this matter. So soon as the rumour came to bis ears that the Minister for Public Works had authorised the formation of these carriage drives, in order to find work for the unemployed, Mr Thompson gave notice that he would put a question to him, with a view to ascertain-

iug- the truth of the statement. As Mr Thompson has said, if men are to be employed on relief works, if roads are to be thus constructed, let it be done in the country,. where such works are a pressing necessity. If, say, 50 of these men were drafted to this district, and placed under the control of the Count}- Council, the amount of good which would result is difficult to estimate. Perhaps the objection to go into the country, raised by the unemployed (think of it ; starving men raising such an objection) has had a little to do with this proposition. If so, how strange is it that the idle, the dissolute, and the incompetent, who always form so large a proportion of the unemployed, are always considered, and the settler never! Strange that, while the settler — who is the prop and mainstay of the country — cannot, as things are, earn a shining a day on his farm, should be taxed to employ men at three-and-sixpence a day on fancy works. If such is the intelligence of our legislators, then we say, in all sincerity, the sooner the institution at the Whau changes place with the institution at Wellington the better.