THE PREMIER AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10621, 17 March 1896, Page 6

THE PREMIER AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,—The Premier's letter which appears in your issue of to-day must bo very encouraging to the unemployed of Curistchurch. He says "he regrets to hear th».t the mayor should have stated that no help w»s to be expected from the municipalities, seeing that such a conclusion is abrogating the functions of ths local authorities." Now, anyone who haq studied the action of th? present 6 ivernment must be convinced that the whole question of the unemployed is attributable to their profuse promises in the early days of their power, as also to their bad legislation. The Premier must know very well that the Government has deprived the mutiici*>Hlif.ies from time to tinae of various sources ol! revenue, thus crippling their resources str.d pieventing them thiough lack of funds from employing surplus labour »nd spending money even on necessary works. The rates are now 50 heavy that citizens can scarcely meet tbeai, and certainly would not sanction nny increase. Agnin, he s*ys : "It would appear as though they spent the money junt as tftey earned it, relying too much upon the Government." Now he should have applied that to himself by striking out the words " earned it" and inserting the words " just as they raise extra tr.xee," relying too much upon their power to screw out of the sottiera far more than they are able to bear. Thus it is that these taxpayers are prevented employing ths necessary, hands which,- but for the heavy demands of the Government, tUoy could otherwise do. An it is, one docs away with half his hands on a farm ; another dispenses with his gardener ; another turns away his coachman ; others either reduce or do away with their domestic servants, similar reductions taking place ia all industries. Thus the ranks of the unemployed are swelled from day to day. It is quite tim« tbs.t the people wakened up to the mismanagement and misrule of the self-styled "People's Government," and set themselves diligently ro find men of tried character, experience, and integrity before the next general elections.—l am, &c, March 14. Taxpayer.