PUBLIC MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED

Otago Witness, Issue 50, 29 June 1861, Page 10

PUBLIC MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED

(Communicated,) A public meeting of the labouring classes was held on Wednesday evening last, in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Dunedin, _ pursuant, to public announcement, " To take into consideration the advisability of petitioning^ the Pro- 1 vincial Council as to the present state of the labour market." A working man having taken the Chair, opened the meeting by briefly stating its object, after which he read the following memorial :—: — " Unto the Honourable the Provincial Council of Otago, " The memorial of the undersigned stonemasons, tradesmen, and others, respectfully shcweth, Ist. " That your memorialists were induced to emigrate from the mother country at the instigation of your Representatives, and on the faith of their statements as to the demand for labour here, and assurances as to the certainty of procuring permanent employment at fair wages immediately on arrival ; and also on the faith of the Government, that land could be procured in quantities of 10 acres and upwards at the rate of 10s. an acre. 2nd. " That your memorialists have been unable to procure land on the terms specified, (but for the hope of obtaining which many of them would never have left their native shores) that finding no demand for their labour among private employers, they had applied at the various public works with the like result. That most of them are now destitute of any other capital than their own labour, and that many of them have wives and families to provide for, with nothing but starvation staring them in the face. 3rd. " That your memorialists attribute the present glut of the labour market not to an over supply, but to the diminution of expenditure on public works, resulting from the recent change in Executive Government. How far the financial position of the Province may have rendered such retrenchment expedient, it is not for your memorialists to say. They make bold, however, to express their opinion, that with such resources as this Province possesses, and with so much public work requiring to be done, ample and remunerative employment might be found for all. " May it therefore please your Honourable Council to take such steps as to you may seem meet, towards employment being found for all, and the fulfillment of the promises which induced your memorialists to come to this Province. " And, failing this, may you be pleased in your wisdom to adopt such means as that your memorialists may be enabled to acquire possession of land, sufficient to employ their labour, and therebj' grow food for the sustenance of themselves and families. With abundance of land at your disposal, it appears to your memorialists that no man should be compelled to be idle, or exposed to starvation, who is able and willing to work. 11 Trusting that your Honourable Council will take the premises into your prompt and favourable consideration, "Your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray."' Exception Avas taken by several parties to the terms employed in the memorial, as appearing to emanate from one particular class. This the chairman explained away, the terms " Tradesmen and others" taking in all trades, and including labourers. Mr. J. N. Jago said he had no doubt but that all would agree with him, that the main question was— How to get possession of the land ? This he would endeavour to show. The Government had no money to lend, but they had plenty of land to dispose of. But to cultivate land it required cnpital, and he should think there were many who would lend money on the security of the land, say for five years, the land to be forfeited if the money were not repaid. Or, tbe*-Govcrnment might lay off a block of land to immigrants, the occupier to be employed by them for three days in the week, in making roads to it, and the remainder in cultivating his land. He would propose they should pay nothing the first year; £25 the second, and so on till it was paid for ; and they would soon be able to " sit down under their own vine and fig tree," which was their main object in coming here. He alluded to the quantities of woodwork imported into the Colony from America, and asked how it was that such was the case, while we had such a variety of suitable wood in our own forests ; also to the money spent in drink, which ought to be better applied. He advised the formation of political societies amongst working men, so that they could nominate and elect their own representatives. lie had every confidence in Major .Richardson, but he considered that Government ought to organise or support plans for the increase of our manufactures here, ajid the export of our various products rather than importing from other countries, instead of forming plans for cutting down the Bell-hill, or making a promenade across the harbour. '' A working man rose and said he should rather propose, that those who had a little capital be allowed to take possession of land", say for seven years ; such person to register his claim, which should not exceed 150 acres. He shouLl be required to fence it in ; and the price should not be more than 10s. per acre, with interest. He would thus get easy possession of the land, which would be the greatest boon possible. Possibly there would be some who had not sufficient capital, but there were many who had. He thought the Government should be memorialised to grant greater facilities for the acquisition of land, namely — free selection, and deferred payments. The Chairman remarked that the subject before the meeting was not so much the acquiring land, which was useless to those who had no means, but rather the finding employment for those at present in need. Several parties called for the memorial, which the Chairman again read. A speaker said all were fully agreed as to the necessity of getting on to land, but there were many present who could not. . Mr. Dodd said we must stop the Immigration, and proposed " That this meeting memorialise the present Council now sitting that no more money be voted for the purposes of Im-^ migration, as it is very likely that sufficient Immigrants will arrive from the other colonies ; and that the money usually voted for such purposes be applied to the opening up of the interior, and in making roads." This was seconded by J. Beadle, who denounced the reports of the Gold Diggings, _ which had appeared in the public prints, as humbug, and got up by the Government and other interested parties, for their own advancement" The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Several parties made statements that the storekeepers at the Lindis had sold goods at ridiculously low prices, and in some cases offered to Rupply stores for nothing, with the intention of suppressing any bad reports. A speaker then said that the Memorial ought to say " the Working Class." Mr. J. Miller then proposed "that the Memorial, as read by the Chairman, be adopted by this Meeting, and presented to the Provin- i cial Council for their consideration." The, word " stonemasons" being unanimously objected to, it was struck out, and the Memorial vi&a then laid on the table for signature. David Winter stated that being induced by private letters to, the Diggings, he left his cm-; ,ploymen,t 'and proceeded thither, in company with several others. ,On their arrival they commenced working a claim, and coniihued' for six days, during the' cold and wet weather; they raised; several tons of earth, and at the end of the six days they had just f" 1 Obtained ' three shilling's and' 'eleven -pence, worth of gold. ' The)' ■ the> .sorted back; and* oiEflfST 1 way. met perhaps 200 or 'more, going

*o the Diggings. They, of course, gave thenv | no encouragement, and were in return abused j for their pains, but he had seen some of them I since, nay there were several in the room, and they could amply bear him out. Expression was freely given to the opinion that the statements of those in the public newspapers respecting the Diggings were by interested parties, and that any contrary opinion would be refused insertion. The Chairman stated that fhe Press was open to all, and it was the duty of every one who saw mis-statements to correct them. He had no doubt that every facility would be afforded for so doing. There were exceptions to that rule, but they were rare The room was inconveniently crowded, there being about 150 persons present, all apparently being of the working class. A collection having been made for the u?e of the Hall, the meeting broke up. About sixty persons signed the Memorial, which, we understand, is to be presented by Mr. Reynolds. Another meeting is to be held some evening next week.