The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1228, 24 March 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1880.

A correspondent writes to us complaining that the stoppage of the Windsor-Livingstone railway works has brought those who were employed upon them to the verge of starvation. It is a hard case. But we believe the Government temporarily stopped the works so as to release during harvest time labor that was employed in the first instance principally to prevent destitution amongst the laboring classes of the district. We understand that masons are still employed on the works, which is surely an indication that the Government intend to resume the work 3 sooner or later. "We admit that to he made aware of the probable intentions of the Government in this matter is very " cold comfort " to men who see nothing but almost immediate starvation staring them and their wives and children in the face. The Government shoidd remember that these men were indnced by their predecessors in office to congregate in a place where to procure other employment than that which they were promised is impossible; and now that the harvest work has so far advanced as. to release multitudes of laborers throughout this district and colony, they should, without further delay, reinstate them on the works. We have no doubt that the members of Parliament for this district will not fail to make representations to the Government to this effect. Numerous works are being started throughout the colony for the purpose of giving employment to the legions of unemployed ; and we think that the Government will, whilst administering to the bitter necessities of the " unemployed " in other parts of the colon}*, recognise the legitimate demands of the WindsorLivingstone railway workmen. We trust that the Government will not delay in doing this, and that these workmen will be able to eke out some sort of existence until they are reinstated.