THE UNEMPLOYED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13386, 12 September 1905, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED.

. TO THE IIDITOH. Sir,—Last-wook I hail a man working for mo as a labourer at 7s per day. He seemed perfectly satisfied, no doubt thinking half a loaf better than'.no : bread.- Yesterday intimation camo that Iwas running the risk of being taken before the Ai-lHtration Court, as I was paying ]o per day le6s than the law nllows, so I have sent him io swell the ranks of the unemployed. Comment is needless.— I am, c-fe., • B. L. •• September 9.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l liotico in your paper of tlio '9th inst. that a deputation, representing the unemployed waited upon his Worship the Mayor, stating that there arc 150 married men out of employment, and that Australians .were getting preference over local men on such undertakings as the drainage works. This has been a burning question among local men from the commencement of the tramway construction works. As to tho drainage works,. it was pitiful at the commencement 'to see the way the men were selected. You had to go to the engineer's offico and get • your name put ■ down in a book by a boy, and if any men wero wanted by tho gangers, word was sent to yon from the office, and men who had to be taught how to use their tools in some cases got preference over tho hard, tanned, and practical navvy. Those men who formed the deputation to the Mayor deserve tho credit of their fellow workmen in publicly bringing tho matter '-forward. How often "has tho question been iwforo tho Drainage Board of Australians.versus local'morii of single versus married, and of. relatives'versus all. I tliirik it is piP6t ungrateful that local married men with families, who havo to livo and dic here, and help to pay forsucb works as the drainago scheme, should have to take a back eeat

in favour of thoso whohave no encumbranco.' It is necessary that wo/'ehould 'havo . better organisation than at present. To. put fit .in a nutshell, it has been, and is, owing to the action; of tho gangers, of the works,. that so much dissatisfaction is prevalent, and'nbt'tqi : tho action of tho engineer or tho board,: us* tho employment and dismissal of men isin; tlio handsipf tho gangers. If many of'thoso gangers had had moro experience in hand-' ling workers, there,would not to so much, dissatisfaction among tlio local men. Whoritiio drainage engineer at one of tho board's meetings stated that,ho lost tlio control of/ tlio men, that was cjuitp stiflicicnt to provo that stops, should-.bo taken to . organiso ail tlio board's employees. As for tho Govern-, ment and tlio Mosgiel railway duplication, it is fallacious to snv that such, works would "bo started at the early dato that, was mentioned. In viow of the I ' depression that reigns in our. midst, it is necessary orgaiiiiso a Dunedin. lloegiel Duplication naflwav League, Trusting, that somo energetic roform party will, more in tlio matter—l am, etc.. Dunodin, September 11. WORKMAN.