The Southland Times PUBLISHED DAILY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, 9th JUNE, 1891.

Southland Times, Issue 11757, 9 June 1891, Page 2

The Southland Times PUBLISHED DAILY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, 9th JUNE, 1891.

It haa been understood for some time that the Government intend creating a Department of Industry under a responsible Minister, charged especially with finding work for the unemployed, who are not unlikely, under the present regime, to be very numerous all over the colony. The platform of the National Liberal Association, at whose " bench" Mr Seddon presided, includes the under taking " as a State function the employment of all needing work," and this, with the recklepa disregard of economi cal laws which distinguishes their policy, Ministers would seem to hsvp accepted as their duty. We can quite understand that being practically in the hands of the delegate members of the party, and depending for official existence upon the will of those who control the labour organisations, they are constrained to action against which their better judgment x&utt protwt, butitii tittle *!««,

than political lunacy to recoguise the ' principle that every one has a right to look to the State for employment. The ' doty of a Government begins and endt* with providing relief works in cases of necessity, and then, in the interests of the community, the greatest care has to be taken not to interfere with the ordinary labour market, otherwise the resnlts must be disastrous to independent industries. The N.Z. Tines, generally accredited as the Ministerial organ in Wellington, gives in a quite recent issue, evidently by authority, a sketch of the scheme of the proposed new department. It is not proposed to increase the namber of salaried Ministers, but to entrust the portfolio to a present member of the Cabinet, probably Mr Reeves, who is not ovfir-burdened with departmental work. The head office will, of coarse, be in Wellington, with branches at the principal centres of population throughout the colony, presided over by agents, who will be officers holding other appointments in the Civil Service, possibly the Commissioners of Crown Lands. It is, however, clear from the character and extent of the duties indicated that there will have to be in each place an office and official staff maintained, and who so fit to be thus employed ae the men who have made themselves so basy daring the last twelve months in labour agitations. The principal duty of the local agent will be to keep the Minister informed from week to week as to the unemployed labonr in bis district, their number, occupations, capabilities, and family circumstances. He will be required to be in constant communication with the municipal authorities in town and country, as well as with the Trades Unions, benefit societies, and employers of labonr with the view of ascertaining the state of the labonr market, and this information is to be properly classified, included in the weekly report and published locally. It is explained through the New Zealand Times that the idea of the Government is to equalise the supply of labonr throughout the colony, relieving congested centres by dist'ibution throughout the country and tending the unemployed according to qualification to localities where work is available. This id proposed to be done at the public expense and the men are further to be induced wherever they find steady work in the construction of roadn, railways, etc ,to become small settlers, special advantages being offered. The new department, it will be seen, promises to be a big thing and will certainly involve very heavy expenditure. The proposals as put before the public are plausible enough, but the avenues to abase are numerous, and it may easily be understood that they are not uulikely to be traversed by such a Ministry as that now in office. The financial aspect of the question is serious enough, but not so herious in the interests of the people at large as the possible encouragement which may be afforded to depend on the Government, the consequent demoralisation of tbe workman and the chronic disturbance of tbe labour market. A weak point, moreover, in the scb«me is tbe presumption that the unemployed, congested in the centres, would be willing to be sent just where the department pleases. Many prefer the chances of casual work in town. Most certainly, also, when agreeable localities, where work is easy, are open, the ranks of tbe unemployed would be reinforced, possibly largely by men in work who may not be altogether satisfied with their employment.