TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 6

TRADES AND LABOUR.

THE IMPENDING COLLIERS' STJRIKE. Preji Association—By Talegraph— Oopyright. Ssdney, March 20. Though the ballot returns are kept as far as possible secret the latest advices aw that the Newcastle lodges are voting largely m favour of a strike, and a general stoppage is imminent. SHE WELLINGTON UNEMPLOYED. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, March 20. A deputation of unemployed waited on tbe Hoa. Mr Hall-Jones (Minister for Public Works) this morning. They pointed ont that 167 men were on the unemployed list at Wellington, 101 of whom mast have work immediately. »s they were in dirs distress. Mr Dnthie and Dr Newmnn, "i.H.E.'s, iccompanied the deputation. Dr Newtßaa said there was a very large number of people out of work—more for this rime of year than ha had ever known before. Iu the past, in towns, one could always tell men sinking work to go up-country and get it, but cow it w.is useless to send men there, for there was no work for them. The Government were diseasing co-operative workers, and men had b!ko been recently discharged from the railway workBbops, and this was swelling the ranks of the men out of employment. He urged the subsidising of local bodies, who could then assist in finding employment for men. Mr Duthie thought the statements made by the men showed that a state of distress existed of a rather alarming character. It seemed to him that they must either have work at once or roffer starvation, and thiis was sufficient causa 1 for some interference on the part of the Government. The people of Wellington and the City Corporation had already done a great deal for j the unemployed by private contribntions i and relief work; bus they would find that the money contributed by citizens was always given by the same few people, and he was afraid that they could not keep on contributing, therefore something should be done by the Government. The corporation bad done as much as possible with the means at if* command to find employment for men out of work.

Mr Hall-Jones, in reply, said the Question of. the unemployed must be looked at trom every point of view, and in this case they had to deal with the question as it affected the whole of the colony. The unemployed trouble in Wellington he considered was due to tbe influx of men from the Australian colonies, and he was glad to say that the time was coming when they would have an Undesirable Immigrants Bill passed into law. Referring to the question raised by one member of the deputation, he said he felt very strongly on the question of eight hours as a working day, and next session the Government intended to deal with this question. Wellington was one of the most prosperous cities in the colony, and he was pleased to see that, despite the large influx: of population, and notwithstanding that the movement had been organised for some days, there were only sotne 167 unemployed in the city. It had been said that the Government had done a little for the unemployed of the colony. He considered they had done a very great deal. Last year the number of unemployed relieved or assisted by the Government totalled 1667 persons, and of these 853 were in Wellington or came from Wellington. The figures for four chief centres were: —Wellington 853 men, with 1734 persons dependent on them, found employment; Dunedin 329 men, with 1087 persons dependent on them ; Auckland 245 men, with 781 persons dependent on them; and Christchurch 235 men, with 693 persons dependent on them. He ■aid he would consult the Minister for Labour and see what could be done to relieve cases of immediate distress. .■■''■'

A meeting of the unemployed, was held subsequently, when it was decided, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply given by the Minister, to continue organising! and appeal to the public for assistance. Chbistchbbch, March 20. , At a meeting to-night, attended by about 100, t. resolution was carried " That the Premier's reply to the local M.H.R's. re the unemployed is unsatisfactory, and that it is the duty of the Government to find some permanent solution of the difficulty." It was also resolved that the system of subsidising local bodies to find work is not desirable, as it bad a pauperwing effect.