THE LANCASHIRE DISTRESS AND EMIGRATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 319, 27 December 1862, Page 5

THE LANCASHIRE DISTRESS AND EMIGRATION.

The following letter in reference to the emigration of overlookers from the cotton districts has been addressed to the Times by Mr John Lang, Manchester :

"On behalf ofthe unemployed overlookers of Manchester and its vicinity, 1 take the liberty of addressing the public through youi* valuable columns. Tnere ar-* at present some 250 out of employ in this neighborhod j they are men who have held responsible and importmt situations in the different branches of the cotfcon manufacturing business, Thsy are men of general good cha acter who have risen to their present position step by step amid competition. They are accustomed to hard labor, and are perfectly familiar with and aceumsfcomed to the use of a mechanic's or a carpenter's tools. These men are now, through tae present depression of the cotton trade, enduring the most acute suffering. For months the majority of them have been totally unemployed. Their little savings are entirely txhausted, and"they are reduced to the necessity of subsisting on the benevolence of their fellow-countrymen. Seeing no prospect of an immediate termination of ■. their present distress,, many of them now desire to emigrate to some of the British colonies, and, as Queensland offer* the greatest advantages, that colony would be preferable. You will easily comprehend that in their present circumstances they are unable to defray the expenses of emigration, or even any portion thereof. They, therefore, appeal to that spirit of English generosity which has been so grandly displayed of late to assist them in their enterprise. If the men were thus, transplanted, it %yould relieve the market of a surplus of labor when trade again revives and would thus confer a great and real benefltboth oh the emigrants anl those left at home. Very extensive funds are^.b.w-'-.b6iiig'.'-raißed for various ccbari' table objects, and, ns this scheme of emigration is a perfectly legitimate one, and one \yhich would afford efficient aiid permanent relief to a very deserving body of m?n, I trust that I shall not be considered presumptuous if I suggest that a public subscription towards this end would meet the requirements of the Aeimfi ;The sum that would be required toi settle a jjart Aoi these:n»en xi and their families in Queensland Jwpald be easily mised by: a generous public, and yet would be such aa would placet them in a compiratively prospjarous:; po3itiph. The;' men themselves are eager to embark, beln^ stances; will te improved by the change j the only obstaclelri the wpy «•• &l Have already /&$&, a hwfc ;9f:fwJft<-T#^;4V^^