Unemployed Commission.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5161, 17 November 1884, Page 4

Unemployed Commission.

♦ The members of this Commission sat at Eangiora on Friday, and examined a considerable number of men who were out of work at the present time. The Commission undertook to see if employment could be procured for them on the Government works. An extract was read from a private letter from Sydney, dated Oct. 31, 1881, to the following effect :— " If they (tho unemployed) come over to Sydney they can get any quantity of work (not in the city), but on the railways. luen do better here than in New Zealand. The weather is finer and thoy can work every day full time, and live cheap. Clothes and boots aro one-third less than in New Zealand." Mr J J. E, March wrote, stating he had rel ceived a lvply from Mr Austin, District j Engineer, on tho subject of the men at the Waiau works sending money home as 1 follows : — " He (Mr Austin) has sent the I engineer in charge of the works a supply 1 of blank forms of money orders, with ! instructions to send a responsible person j to the Waiau Post-office with any money I the men wish to scud after every pay-day.. This will, I think, meet the difficulty." The Commission sat in the Council Chamber, Kaiapoi, all day on Saturday. His Worship the Mayoiv, Mr E. Moore, was in attendance. Seventeen witnesses out of employment were exaauned, in additioa to which his Worship th* Mayor, the mauager of the woollon factory, and three clergymen made statements respecting tie unemployed in the town and district. Tho Cominis?k>n will resume their sittings in the Old Provincial Chamber tliis morning, and will remain, in session there during the- preseut week.