THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WORKERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 8

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WORKERS.

Sir, My wife and I aro natives of your city, and we have 10 children. The'last time I yvas out of work I asked tlie labour agent here to got mc work,' without success, although ho wroto to tho Labour Bureau in Dunedin. I then wrote to our member for the district After waiting for about three weeks I received a reply to say that my case was under , consideration by the Acting Minister of Public Works. That gentleman wrote and said ho regretted he could not find employment for me. Tho Minister did not care if I bad a loaf of bread in the house or not— there was' no work for me. and that settled it. Now, Sir, I did not want work at any door. I was willing to' go 400 miles away to get it. At the time ■! applied for, work the At'henic arrived with 600 imnii-* grants, and work was found for those that required it. The work I wanted was pick-and-shovel work, and it was refused by a Minister who boast 6ho is a friend of the working classes. I have nothing to keep my family on except my t\vo hands, and when tlioy fail me I am' done. My case is not the only one I • know. There are others who have been treated tho same way here. No wonder tho birth rate is decreasing when there is no encouragement. from tlie so-called Liberal Government.—l am, etc., A Fern Leaf. Vincent County, October 25. !