The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1883. Want of Employment.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1030, 24 August 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1883. Want of Employment.

It is very often difficult to see what are the precise reasons which govern the free and independent electors in their choice of a parliamentaiy representative, but we certainly think that if a general election were to take place at the present time the people of Timaru would scarcely return the gentleman now sitting for that constituency. Mr Turnbull has frequently shown an unaccountable inclination to place the district he represents in the most unfavorable light possible, and on Friday last he asked the Government if they would send the Stella or the Hinemoa to Timaru to remove families who could not get employment to the North Island. There could be but one answer to such an extraordinary request, and Mr Rolleston promised that an immediate enquiry would be made as to whether it was necessary to take the action suggested. That enquiry has been held, with the result that so far from Timaru suffering exceptionally in this direction, the want of employment is far less marked than is to be fexpected at this time of year. It would be idle to deny that business throughout the colony is at the present moment dull, but it is not easy to see what good purpose would be served by deporting men from one place to another, where, in all probability, they would find themselves just as badly off. Mr Turnbull likes to pose 'as the working man’s friend, and no doubt he thought he was doing a service to the possessors of the “ hardy, horny hand of toil,” when he made his proposal to the Government. In this instance, however, he cannot be said to have been successful, and by pandering to the desires of some grumbling petitioners, the majority of whom probably would not work even

if they were offered employment, he has naturally roused the anger of the influential people of Timafu, who certainly do not believe their town is going to the dogs. Everybody knows how easy it is to get up petitions on any subject; persons often enough signing them with no idea of responsibility attaching to their names. In this case, Mr Turnbull told the House that one hundred and twelve people had requested him to bring the matter before the Government, but when the enquiry was held only twenty-eight put in an appearance, and of these eleven were not among the original petitioners. Mr March, the immigration officer, gave the men clearly to understand that he would not advise the Government to comply with their member’s suggestion, and he added some solid advice, which we hope will be taken. From the evidence it seemed that the reason why most of the complainants could not get employment was that they objected to do any work except that for which they had been trained. Mr March told them' to put their hands to the first thing that turned up, and at the same time stated that he would do his best to procure occupation for those who were ready to take wages at five or six shillings a day. Now, however, we learn that several have refused to take the former remuneration, and if this is the spirit in which hard times are looked at the men assuredly do not deserve sympathy or Government assistance. It is no wonder, therefore, that Mr Turnbull is being blamed for having made a foolish request upon the receipt of a petition signed by people whose position is due entirely to their own fault.