PUBLIC MEETING AT THE OCTAGON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 827, 16 August 1864, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE OCTAGON.

c (Communicated ) A public meeting called by Mr J. G. S. Graht, was held on the Octagon yesterday, at noon. The weather was fair and bright, and a large number of men took up their station on and around a heap of broken metal near Cargill's monument. Mr J. G. S. Grant addressed the meeting by stating that the Working Men's Committee had had a meeting at the Royal George Hotel, and had formed resolutions, which would now be brought before them. The Committee had also resolve! that he should occupy the chair at that meeting, for the purpose of keeping a lynx eye on, and watching over the proceedings. He was there that day as the embodiment of a principle which was in antagonism fco the principles embodied in the daily papers, He said there were just now a thousand men unemployed in Dunedin. These men were not "loafers." They were able and heartily willing to work, and did not dfsire to lounge away their lives at the corners of the streets as an obstruc tion to the police, nor to sponge upon the bars of the hotels. He would not speak of the base conduct that had been shown to himself individually, in having false letters published repre senting hitr. as a firebrand, because he had stood out for the eight hours' system. He had warned, them a week ago that M essrs. Lonnie and Co. ' intended to bring in the nine hours' system, j and though that had been denied at the time, his prognostication had proved to be true, for Messrs Lonnie and Co's works were that day vacant. These contractors had an eye to their pockets, and looked upon their f»llowcreafcures as beasts of burden. There was a combination to bring on the nine hours' system, and, eventually, fche ten' hours' f y^tem, and to do what, had been done _n Marlborough, where the Government had given the men four shillings per day, while bread was at Is 6d per 41b lo if; and he knew by experience that, in the viciaity of Cook's Straits the weather was very boisterous and wet; and in O'ago a man could nofc work more than four days in the week, and that with br;ad afc ls -6d per 41b loaf, was enough to take the breath out of any one. He <>id not intend to speak much, as other speakers were to bring forward resolutions, but he had been appointed^ fee occupy the cbair (A voice: "Let the meeting constitute you chairman,") because it was intended to throw cold water on fche proceedings. If it was their wish that he should preside on that occasion they might signify the same by a show of hands. (Here a large show of htinds wa3 held up.) They could now see that ifc was a lie to say thafc he had taken the chair on his own responsibility. Mr Grant then called for the first resolution, which was proposed by Mr Alexander M'Gilhvray, as follows: — . ■" That ia tl c unanimous and mature convicr tion of this assembly, the sufferings of the work- ' ing classes of Otaco are. very great, and are daily becoming greater and more insupportable; and that in Dunedin particularly there are one thousand unemployed men who are able and willing to work, but who are unable to obtain any sort of employment to sustain the breath of life in theta, and to keep themselves and their families from disaase, starvation, and a premature grave." The' resolution was seconded by Mr James Paterson, and carried. Mr Grant having cal]ed in vaia for an expression of opinion on the opposite side, next called for the second resolution to be read. The resolution was as follows :— " Tint a deputation consisting of six men be appointed as a Committee, to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent, to ascertain of him if ifc is the intention of the Government to open up, without delay, some publi' 1 works." Tho resolution (brought forward by one whose name we did not hear) was seconded by Mr Edward Crowley, and carried. Mr Crowley said the sufferings of these men in this Colony should find utterance throughout fche length and breadth ot the land. The misery thafc had come to the surface wou'd find relief if their rulers would take notice of their cry. All they asked, wns a fair day's wages for a fair day's labor. And he maintained that it was .the luty of the State, in an emergency of %that kind to fiud work for those who wanted it. ' Many had brought money to this country, and had spent ifc in going from one gold field to "another. He, himself, had got only one job of work for a long time, and that was bush work for a member of the Provincial Council; and for that, he could get paid only half-price, because he had rot a bush license. And he" would not have got paid at all, if he had not taken an axe in hi« hand and brandished it as if he were a bushranger. He had called at several stations up the country, and asked for work or a meal, which he reckoned :he was entitled to ; and when .he was refused a meal he, in several instances) chared the table with one hand, while he defended himself with the other. Work was not to be had up the country. Men Would rather earn tucker up the country than come to Duuedin, and when they came down they wanted to ship away from it. He had got one day's work since he came to Dunedin. They ought to be unanimous, firm, and decided in their bearing. They had a right to expect work, and the money would be returned again. If the Government refused to listen to their voice, on their own heads be the blame. For himself he was prepared to put in practice what he had done already, and take what he could not get honestly. (Great cheering) They, ought to wait upon the Superintendent, and know whether it was his intention to allow them to starve or to live. .■-",■ Mr Grant then spoke, and said this was a matter that affected not the operatives only, but the whole body of storekeepers, publicans, and sinners generally. Why was Dunedin dull] Because the debentures would not sell, said the papers. No such thing. It was because their IMPORTANT SALE OF

revenues were spent in paying useless officials. If they had a million of money from B^land tomorrow it would all be squandered on officialism. The daily papers would take no notice of apubr lie meeting of the unemployed, though they would write a arreat deal aboufc a parson up at, Lyttelton. Tbe workman who would buy any of the daily papers was doing all he could to damage his own cause. There was nofc a word of truth in these papers After some further remarks, Mr Grant read the following resolution :—

"Resolved,—That the laboring- classss shall maintain intact the eight hours' system, as the apple of their eye. against, any Government contractor or master that may demand eight or nine hours daily. That they shall treat any man, who shall work more than eight hours daily, as a common enemy to his order. That they shall regard the man who shall demand more thrw eight hours as the vilest wretch that crawls on God's earth."

The resolution having been carried, the meeting appointed six men as a deputation to wan, on the Superintendent, and the meeting quietly dispersed. '