SEDDON V. FISH.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1769, 1 June 1895, Page 4

SEDDON V. FISH.

The following are specimens of telegrams on the subject of the unemployed of Dunedin, which have passcv. u>.Lween the Premier and the Mayor :— WELLINGTON, May 28. H. S, Fish, Esq., Mayor of Dunedin— I fully comprehend, and frankly excuse, your inability to understand my reference to the abnormal increase of the unemployed on the books of the Labour Bureau m Dunedin. Mr Farnie wires me to-day, even with this abnormal increase, the number on the roll is 230. The figures" do not mean that this number of men is idle and m necessitous circumstances, and if called upon to-morrow less than half would answer to their names should work offer outside the district. In your telegram "of the 25th inst. you admitted the liability of the local bodies to find work for- the unemployed—to use your own words, "it was impossible for local bodies to do anything, for each one around and including Dunedin was hard up, and revenue would not meet fixed expenditure." And further you say : "We are now employing twenty men on ;work which, although necessary could be done without, m order to help a little." By this you veiy properly, m my opinion, admitted that it was one. of the functions of the local authorities to provide for the necessitous of the unemployed residents. The fact of your having failed to make provision m the three years' estimates for the emergency that has arisen proves the want of foresight, and is to be regretted, for most public men estimated that the present winter would be severe on the working classes; and, further, without -desiring m the slightest to be disrespectful, it is not out of place for me to add that the moneys of the borough spent on telegrams m connection with this matter would have purchaseda considerable amount of the needful bread and cheese " mentioned m your last telegram. You, perhaps inadvertently, incorrectly stated what the policy of the Government is m respect to the unemployed question, We' have a duty to perform, and with the means at our command are doing our best; - Employment has been found by the bureau m Dunedin for 380 men for the year ended April last. The. Government have done their duty, and it is not asking too much for not only the local authorities but private employers, who can afford it, to do likewise. T May I further ask you to give practical shape to your sympathy by increasing the number of men employed. The success that has attended the loans conversion scheme should place the borough m a position to do this without causing financial embarrassment. However, hard as things are, they were much worse m 1880, for, on reference to the Public Works Statement, you will find that, although over a million was expended on public works under the contract system, during the same year 2000 men were employed on Government relief works at from 2s 6d to 3s per day. Now we have less than 3000 men all told employed on Government co-operative and reproductive works, my great regret being that our means will not permit us to provide for the whole of the necessitous cases at a time like the present. Local authorities would do well m their own interests,and m the interests of the people m their inidstj if they assisted,as far as possible, to relieve the necessities of the unemployed. In reference to this matter the local authorities and citizens of Wellington last winter showed an example it would be well for all wellwishers of our colony to follow. With pleasure I accept your denial as to making any attack on the Government, and will accept your references as intended to be eomplimentaryi The ambiguity of the language used by you led me to err. I regret that you should for a moment think that I questioned -your motives, and assure you that on this point 1 wag never m doubt. What I did say was that unkind and uncharitable persons might wrongfully construe your actions, and that political capital was paramount to finding work for the unemployed.— R. J. Seddon. Dunedin, May 29. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.— Your lengthy and exuberantly verbose telegram to hand. I made no admission of the liability of corporate bodies to provide work for the unemployed, although feelings of humanity may prompt us (as m the case of the employment of the twenty men) to go out of our way to afford a little help, and I cannot be held responsible for the interpretation you choose to put on my language. This being so, I fail to see how we can be charged with " having failed to make provision m the year's estimate for emergency." Your charge of want of foresight is therefore inapplicable, and comes with singularly bad taste from a man who, having far greater resources and superior knowledge as to possible contingencies with regard to want of employment, has himself failed to make the provision necessary to meet them. Had you honestly expended the moneys within the financial year voted by the legislature for works m Otago, the present state of things would not have existed. Your allusion to the moneys of this borough being expended upon these telegrams -is, if you will pardon me for saying so, somewhat impertinent, and can only be accounted for by the absence of gentlemanly instinct. It may, however, comfort you to know that, except the first day, they are paid for out of my own pocket, and I hope you can say the same for yours. Am sorry for the sake of the unemployed to learn out of your own mouth that it is not the policy now of your Government to provide for their necessities. lam not concerned about ancient history, therefore do not desire information as to the state of things m 1880. We are dealing with 1895. You will, I trust pardon me for saying that I think both private employers and local bodies can estimate their duties and functions without, the Premier's advice and admonition. I am so glad to learn that you do not question my motives, and that you are satisfied they are honest. It is always gratifying to have the approval of a gentleman occupying the position of a Premier, but when it comes from such a Premier ; oh what rapture ! I think now the subject is exhausted, and feel sure you will pardon me if, like the editors, I say " This correspondence must now cease." Meantime I repeat 230 men.want bread and cheese. Will you provide them with it ? 11 . S. Fisu, Mayor.