MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5667, 29 May 1879, Page 2

MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.)

Christchurch, Wednesday. A meeting of the unemployed was held this evening at the Odd Fellows’ Hall. About six hundred persons were present, but certainly not more than one-half belong to the class for whom the meeting was called. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, and, with the exception of some confusion consequent upon turning out a drunken man, the meeting was very orderly. The following resolutions were carried;—That in the opinion of this meeting the attention of the Government should be called to the present state of the labor market in Christchurch and neighborhood, as evidenced by the large number (between 500 and 600 men) being at present unemployed, the majority of whom have families dependent upon them, and whom they find it almost impossible to keep from starvation; and they would respectfully request that the Government would find them such employment as will in the present crisis enable them to provide for the maintenance of themselves and of those dependent upon them ; and also respectfully call the attention of the Government to the fact that large public works which were authorised by the House of Assembly at the last session have not yet been taken in hand, and would urge upon the Government the necessity of such being immediately proceeded with, which would relieve the present depression; and also, that in the event of their being unable to proceed with such forthwith, they would, as at a former period of great distress, grant the Christchurch and Sydenham borough councils a subsidy of £2 for £l, which would enable a large number of men to be at once employed in completing the formation of the South Town Belt, a work greatly needed for the purpose of traffic, and especially for sanitary purposes. That this meeting is of opinion that the present rate of immigration is out of proportion to the present demand for labor, and the same should be considerably reduced, so as not to overstock the labor market as at present is. That his Worship the Mayor be requested to forward the foregoing resolutions to the Minister of Public Works, and that he be kind enough to impress upon the Minister the urgency of the case.