DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7295, 15 October 1891, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

■» At Lyttelton. The Hon. J. Ballance, Premier of the Colony, arrived at Lytfcelton this morning in the Takapuna, from Wellington. He was met on arrival by Mr J.Joyce, M.H.R., and during tke few minutes ha was awaiting the departure of the train he addressed a few words to a large assemblage of working men who were on the wharf when ho landed. He said that the Government had done all in their power to find work in the country for the surplus labour which existed at the ports, and large towns. Special endeavours had been made with regard to the men at Lyttelton by placing the position of affairs i before toe Railway Commissioners, but be regretted to Bay that no great good had come of it. He would be happy to meet a | deputation from the men during his visit j if there was anything they wished to place J before him. Ab the train passed away j from the station hearty cbeers were given for the Premier, for Mr Joyce, and for the Liberal Government. The Hon John Ballanoe, Premier and Colonial Treasurer, accompanied by Mr iEmilius Smith, his Private Secretary, arrived in Christchurch this morning, and is now staying at "Warner's Hotel. He was waited on shortly after his arrival by MB R. M. TATLOB, H.H.R., for the purpose of urging upon the Government the desirability of calling for tenders, without delay, for the works sanctioned by Parliament during the laat session, and for which the necessary money was voted, viz., finishing the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, improvements to the Post and Telegraph Offices, connecting the public buildings with the sewers, and other sanitary improvements. Mr. Taylor said that the reason why he aeked the Government to prooeed with the works at once was simply this, that there was a number of mechanics and others out of employment at the present time, and this being the dullest season of the year he thought it was most opportune for carrying out the works. The Premier quite agreed with Mr Taylor as to the necessity for proceeding with these works at once, and promised to telegraph to the Minister for Public Works to expedite the matter as much as possible. The amount which will thus be put in circulation here is over .£IO,OOO. KNIGHTB OF LABOUR. At noon a deputation of representatives of the Knights of Labour, consisting of Messrs C. J. Rae, W. Powell, J. M. Douglass, fienfield, Whiting and Rogers waited on the Premier respecting the want of employment that they stated was necessary. Mr R. M. Taylor, M.H.R., introduced the deputation, and Mr W. Powell addressed the Premier, asking him, if possible, to provide some class of work for the number of unskilled labourers who were positively out of employment at the present time. In addition to these, there were a great many mechanics who could find no employment. But it was on behalf of the number of workmen who might be termed unskilled labourers who had been unable to get any work for a long time, and would certainly be unable to get any till January next, that the deputation wished the Government to put in hand some class of work suitable to provide them with immediate employment. He hoped that the Premier could see his way to put some road work in hand, or some class of work which was fit for anyone to go at. He remarked that September, October and November were the worst months in the year. Mr Rae said he could not speak as to the actual want of labour, but* he believed that there were a good many who were unable to get work, and he felt sure that the Premier would do what he could to relieve them. Messrs Rogers, Whiting, and Benfield also addressed the Premier, the last saying that the class of men who wanted work the most were those who conld not be called able-bodied men. It was for that class that provision was needed. The Premier replied by explaining that the Government were doing their best in the inteiesta of the working classes by providing land in small areas for settlement, but the trouble in Canterbury was that they had no land with which to operate, as it had all been alienated. The solution of the difficulty would be to be able to provide small holdings for these people on the co-operative principle whereby they would not lose their individuality or self-respect, and at the same time would cease to be unemployed and would become producers and contented eettleri. It was because they had no land in Canterbury that so many were leaving for the North Island to take up land. He did not approve of leaving one part of the Colony to settle in another, but there being no land herein o other course was open. The Government had been frustrated in an attempt to pass an Act whereby they could re-purchase land for settlement of this class, or they had hoped before thin to have been preparing for a scheme of settlement which would have acted as a relief to the labour market. He promised the deputation that he would not overlook the practical part of their representation, and would consult with the officers of the Labour Bureau to see what could be dene immediately.

Mr Douglass raised the question of increased duties for protective purposes, and asked tbe Premier if he proposed advancing the protective duties. The present tariff did not go far enough in the direction, as it admitted German boots, woollen goods, &c, and New Zealand industries were thus crippled. The Premier replied that he was under the impression that the local factories were doing very well, and he did not know that it would be advisable to in- ! crease the tariff at present. But it was probable that it would be necessary to have a revision made in a Bbort time, and these matters would bo taken into consideration. Mr Douglass thought an export duty on wodl would, be a desirable means of securing revenue, and would tend to increaae labour in the Colony. Mr Ballance deprecated all export duties. Mr Douglass then referred to the object of the deputation waiting on the Premier, and asked if the Government could see their way clear to inaugurate some local works of a payable character which would provide employment. Such works as a railway from Kaiapoi to Sumner,and others of a character which would be immediately reproductive, would at enca relieve the labour market. The Premier said he could not undertake to initiate a public works policy of that character, but promised to Bee what could be done in the direction of acceding to the requirements of the deputation. Mr Taylor thanked the Premier for his courtesy, and the deputation withdrew.