DISTRESS IN SYDNEY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10816, 5 December 1902, Page 5

DISTRESS IN SYDNEY.

Unemployed to the

Govornrijent. '

A deputation of unemployed, waited upon the Minister for Works (Mr O'Sullivan) last" week. The men were accompanied fey Messrs Kelly, George and J. F. Smith, M..'s.L.A., each of whom testified to the fact that there was great distress among the working classes of Sydney, and asked ■ that some works might be started 'to give . relief before Christmas. Amongst tho speakers was Mr Dwyer, who, after pointing out that he was a small tradesman who' suffered through the want of work among the poorer classes, said he thought that the Government could easily borrow" or .£50,000,000 in France or the United States' to carry on , public 'works. Mr Sullivan characterised the proposal 'of Mr Dwyer as "moonshine," and said .ho would give .that gentleman three months in which to raise the .£40,000,000. It Was an easy thing for Mr Dyer to propose these financial plans, but the men who ruled the country found it impossible to apply such schemes. The drought had driven thousands of men in country districts out of 'employment, and no doubt many of these had come to Sydney,', thus adding to the number of unemployed here. When the Water Conservation Act became law, he would be able to' give a good deal • of employment to men in the country districts, and younger men in dibfcross in Sydney must tie prepared to go^ out to' some of these distant works, or they would get no employment at all. In addition to those in the country, he thought the works would carry some men from Sydney.- As for the heads of families in distress in Sydney, he would endeavour io start some necessary road and other works which would provide for urgent cases of destitution. . '