The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3862, 3 December 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1883.

It occurs to several of our contemporaries published north of the AVaitaki river—the boundary between Canterbury and Otago— that a little too much is being made out of the " unemployed" cry. AVhen Otago wants its central railroad pushed forward Aye hear a good deal of the unemployed. There are meetings held in Dunedin, influential committees are appointed to take the matter in hand, and so much fuss is made that the Government at last consent to let out a contract for another soction. This was the case a month or tAvo ago,- and something like two hundred men found employment. Tho section on Avhich these men aro engaged is known as the "unemployed line." It is not likely that the Otago Central raihvay -will pay any better interest on the cost_ of its construction than any of the other losinglines in tho colony, and thus unproductive Avorks are being undertaken for the purpose of affording relief to those who choose fo pose before the country in the character of paupers. Last, winter Major Atkinson congratulated the colony on the absence of urgent demands for employment, and the public became reconciled to the partial reestablishment of an immigration policy. The nominated system of immigration did not apparently satisfy the demands of employers, and though the Avorking classes viewed Avith alarm a return to free passages they were silenced by the contention that there was more Avork than hands to do it. The session of Parliament Avas no sooner over than it Avas discovered in Otago that hundreds of men were starving for Avant of employment, and such pressure was brought to bear on the Government that work Avas provided for them by extending tho Otago Central railway. Last week, it Avill be remembered, our telegrams stated that Mr Blair, the Engineer-in-Chief, had discharged one hundred of these men, and immediately there arose a great outcry. The Chamber of Commerce at Dunedin Avas called together, and telegrams were sent to the Minister of Public Works, a public meeting Avas held, and half-a-dozen members of Parliament spoke on the question. As on previous occasions of a like kind, the Government immediately dreAV in its frightened head. The blame was of course thrown on Mr Blair, Avho " had evidently ' misunderstood his instructions." The AVellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press says:—"Either the facts have been incorrectly stated, or else tho Enginocr-in-Ghief has misapprehended the Ministerial instructions. The late Minister for Public Works (Hon. Walter Johnston) had directed

that the number of men (" unemployed " class) engaged on the Otago Central line should be gradually reduced, so as not to cause inconA-onience to the men, careful discretion being exercised in carrying out instructions, and a Aveekly report to be sent to the Government of the total number employed. Notwithstanding this, it would appear that there had been a numerical increase, for the report shoAved 200 employed in lieu of 150. Mr Johnston directed a telegram to be sent to Mr Blair enquiring the reason, and reminding him that the Government required the number to bo gradually diminished, those men being selected for retention Avho were most in need of Avork and least likely to obtain it elsewhere. If, on strength of this telegram, Mr Blair proceeded to discharge over 100 as asserted, he e\ddently misconceived instructions. ScA-eral telegrams have been received on the subject, and Mr Mitehelson has replied to the effect that if the facts were accurately stated, Ministers' instructions had "been misunderstood, and explaining what Avas really designed. He has also telegraphed to Mr Blair stating precisely Avhat the Government meant, and directing him to make a gradual diminution in the number of men." Commenting on this information the Post says it remains to be seen Avhether this Avill satisfy the good people of Otago, who can never understand that there is any other consider:;!:^- 1 which ought to haA'c Aveight excepting that of Otago local interests. AYe notice that Mr Mitehelson, to pacify the malcontents, has already been compelled to promise that another contract en the Otago Central railway shall be put in hand at once, so as to provide employment for the men recently discharged. This is all A-cry nice for Otago, but could not Avork Ikia-o been found for these men on, say, the AVellington-Napier line ?