THE UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2212, 22 May 1894, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED.

The wharf shelter was again full last night, and 12 other men who could not be accommodated were sent to the Home.

Regarding the unemployed, the Labour Journal, issued yesterday, says:—"There has been a great deal of agitation among a certain class of men during the last few weeks, much more, probably, than there was any occasion for. Several meetings were held by men reported out of employment. One of these we attended, and, from the knowledge of our officers, gained by years of experience of the Wellington men, we should say that out of the estimated 200 present there were at least 100 who work on tho wharves and about shipping. It being a slack day at their work, they of course attended the meeting. It seems a peculiar thing that in tho late agitation and that of 12 months ago the loading men should bo strangers, not only to the city, but to tho Colony. We do not pretend to know tho reason, but it remains a fact that it is so.”

Tho return of unemployed in the Wellington district assisted by the Department of Labour during April gives the following figures 58 married and 81 single, with 205 persons dependent on them; 80 were sent to private employment and 59 to Government works; 29 came from tho South Island, eight from Great Britain and three from Australia.

In an editorial footnote appended to a reprint article in the "Labour Journal" on “ How to Help tho Unemployed," Mr Tregear says : —“ Our unemployed difficulty of this year is one of the moment, owing to pressure from without. We shall have, however, a growing ‘ unemployed' difficulty even in New Zealand, [unless we swiftly and strongly legislate to provide small holdings in tho country for landless men, and that will bo a mere temporary palliative.”

The Public Works Committee have decided to recommend to the City Council that the action taken by the Corporation officers with respect to providing road metal to bo broken by tho recipients of charitable aid bo approved.

THE CHRISTCHURCH UNEMPLOYED,

By Telegraph—Prese Aeeociaiion,

Chkistchubcii, May 21. A deputation headed by the Mayor waited on the Premier to-day, and asked him if the Government could do something to relieve the unemployed by taking men to work in other districts. At present, it was pointed out, about 400 men were out of work, and the citizens wore doing the best they could by finding employment for the older men. but they could not maintain the whole number. The Premier said there was no doubt the unemployed question was a difficult one, but it was much exaggerated. The country was now no worse off than it had been several times previously. In 1880, when the expenditure was one million and a-half, the Public "Works Statement showed that 2000 men were on relief works at 2s fid per day. There were now only 2000 on cooperative works, with a public works expenditure of less than half a million. The local bodies, if they had any money to spend, should spend it now. Government always tried to keep back its works in summer time so as to give employment in winter. There was bound to be a scarcity of employment after a bad harvest, but he thought the matter was exaggerated, and by everybody always talking about it the difficulty was absolutely intensified. After some further discussion the Premier said he was in communication with Messrs McKenzie and Peeves, and there was a possibility of some work being shortly taken in hand. He was not prepared to adopt the principle of giving subsidies to local bodies so as to let them go on with works and odd jobs about towns. The Sydenham Borough Council had said it would spend J 3200 if the Government gave illOO. Why not spend the .2200 at once, and if that was not enough, then ask the Government to assist ?

The Mayor said the City Council was in debt, and could do nothing.

The Premier said he would do what he could. Ho hoped there would be less whining, and that everybody would take off his coat, metaphorically speaking, and do what he could to help the distress. No one must bo allowed to starve, but at the same time individual exertion must not be destroyed. He hoped in tho course of a few days at all events to relieve Christchurch of its unemployed to some extent. THE KAIAPOI COMPANY'S TAILOEESSES.

By Teleyraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, May 21.

A deputation representing the girls discharged from the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory asked the Premier to-day whether the Government could assist them. The Premier said the Government could not interfere between the Company and its employees. He believed in self-reliance, and thought they had done quite right in starting for themselves, and for his own part he would jbo prepared to give them any work that Government might want. done. He thought that companies with capital could go further afield for a market. After some conversation regarding the apprentice system and the advisableness of starting a State workshop, the Premier promised to consider the matter and see what could be done.