WORK FOR THE WORKLESS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3344, 11 June 1909, Page 5

WORK FOR THE WORKLESS.

THE POSITION IN CANTERBURY. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch. June 10. A conference oi delegates ot local bodies of the Christchurch district, held to-day. discussed matter- connected w ith finding work for tin- woi xless. Tlie Mayor of Christchurch, wuo piesided, stated that he had received no reply iroiu tlie Prime Minister to his telegram asking if the Government would subsidise. pound tor pound, works started by local authorities for the purpose of absorbing the unemployed.

It was decided to further communicate with Sir Joseph Ward by telegraph, and to adjourn the come:once till a reply was received. Mr L. R. Wilson, secretary ot the Unemployed Committee, stated he had fine names of 208 workless men on his list. Of these one hundred were mar-

ried with families ranging from one child to fourteen. In the last-men-tioned case five children were earning so me tiling. He declared that there were at least 500 men in Christchurch out of work.

The opinion was expressed hv the delegates that tlie General Labourers’ Union should issue permits to incompetent men to enable them to work tor seven shillings a day. and oue speaker advocated that this rate lie paid all round in order not to attract unemployed from other t «irts.