The Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1887.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6089, 19 November 1887, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1887.

THE SEAMY SIDE.

Foe the convenieriee of our readers we have extracted from the reports of the Parliamentary proceedings of yesterday, those portions .which refer to the unemployed question, and to tlie proposal for providing work by means of the Sumner railway. Major Atkinson makes the unreserved admission that there is a great amount of distress amongst the unemployed at present. He may very well do so, for he has had the unpleasant fact persistently forced upon his attention. Messrs Perceval, W. P. Beeves, F. Jones, and others hare — to their infinite credit — done all that men could well do to secure practical attention to the matter. During the time when the Colonial Treasurer was keeping the House and the country waiting for his Financial Statement, the condition of affairs in Canterbury was laid clearly before him, and the assistance of local representatives was freely tendered in order that some reproductive work might be undertaken. Amongst other suggested work 3 was the Suruner railway. It was shown that as a mailer of fact, the line was already partly constructed ; and— which is particularly important—it was made reasonably clear that the work, when completed, would pay good interest on the cost of construction. On all accounts, for ease of access, for the provision of a large amount of suitable work, and for remunerative results, the proposal commended itself. Major Atkinson was, of course, sympathetic as to his utterances with regard to the unemployed, and— with the Minister for Public Works — he was understood to regard the project , favourably. The matter was turned over to the Public Petitions Committtee, and that Committee forthwith reported on the line as one to be properly undertaken. Yesterday came the announcement which our special correspondent fitly describes as a chilling one, that for the present, at any rate, the Railway will not be taken in hand. Major Atkinson will "keep it steadily in view," just as steadily, we suppose, as he is keeping in view the great question of aiding and encouraging the industries of the Colony ; just as steadily as ho is keeping in view the unfortunate men who — as we learn from Aucklandhave pluckily gone out into the wilderness, in the belief that there would be an honest fulfilment of pledges given. Next year, perhaps 3 these things will be as steadily in view as ever. Where, in face of this miserable prevarication, is that marvellous honesty of purpose with which the returned strategist is credited by the organs supporting him ? However, the matter is not done with. The Canterbury Representatives are doing their duty manfully in the face of peculiarly adverse circumstances : they deserve all the moral support their constituents can give them.