ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 27 November 1880, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir, —In your issue of Tuesday night you drew a flattering picture of the prospects of the unemployed, which, I am only sorry to say, is not borne. out by facts. I left the works at Livingstone about one month ago, and I have been travelling up-country ever since in the hopes of obtaining work at more remunerative wages. But I did not get the slightest chanced Almost every hour in the day I met bands of destitute men who did not know where to get a meal, and on a great number of sheep stations they had men working for their food, I would like to know where the men that are being discharged from the Government works are to find employment, as the country is actually swarming with men looking for work, but unable to find it. You mention the goldfields as likely to afford employment to large numbers of men ; but perhaps you are not aware that there are a great many of the old residents of the goldfields looking for work from other sources at the present time, and even the Chinamen not being able to make a living on them now, are leaving in large numbers, and, when they can't exist, you must admit there is little chance for white men. I applied to get back to the unemployed works, but found it was no usp. By inserting this letter in your valuable paper you may prevent others from going up-country on a bootless errand. I am, A*c., Hard Times.