THE UNEMPLOYED.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2210, 7 June 1870, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

The following is the of the select committee of the Proviu I Council appointed to consider the petition of the unemployed : Your Committee having most carefully considered the subject referred to them, desire to report as follows Ist. That the petition is not signed only by unemployed “ labourers, mechanics, and artizans only,” as stated in the preamble thereof. Many of the signatures have been found upon enquiry to be those of storekeepers and publicans, who signed, as some of them state in their evidence, entirely under a misapprehension. Your Committee call attention to this matter, as the custom of signing petitions without understanding their intent, and in many cases without perusal, is not only an affront to the Council, but calculated to injure the cause of bona fide petitioners. 2nd. That a portion of the evidence taken by your committee is to the eiTect that there are at present more than the usual number of unemployed in Dnuedin, and this is attributed to the general depression of trade, and the low price of agricultural produce, which preclude the employer from paying the ruling high price of labour. Another cause suggested is the expectation of tire commencement of the Port Chalmers Kailway works. 3rd. That there are at present more artisans, especially those connected with the building trade, in Dunedin, than are able to find work. The wages of this class appear tq be very high ; but this may be attributed to the casual nature of their employment. Mr Henry Dillon stated in his evidence, that the masons, some of whom he was authorised to represent, were willling to take regular work at a much lower rate. 4th. That at present, as at qll times in a city like Dunedin, there arc a number of persons in a chronic state of unemployment, who prefer a day’s work now and then at a high wage to steady employment ; and that these men set their fa cs decidedly against any reduction in the present daily rate of wage, which enables them to support themselves for a week by casual work for two or three days. sth. That there appears to be no doubt that agricultural labourers, up to their work—steady men—can now, and at any time, obtain employment—although the Committtce regret that there is prejudice amongst many farmers against employing married men with families, which may account for a small per centago amongst the present unemployed. Gfh. That there is a remarkable unanimity In the evidence, to the effect that a large additional number of farm laborers could be employed were the wages reduced to L4O a year and rations, and that generally the present price of labor, taken with the value of produce, precludes the remunerative carrying on of agricultural

pursuits. The evidence also shows that there is a large aud increasing demand for female domestics. 7th, That your Committee desire to express their opinion that the present general depression in the various trades and industries arises in no small degree from the ruling excessive rate of wages, which renders production unvamunerative to the employer and the capitalists. The evidence to this effect is conclusive. Pursuits arc stated to have been abandoned aud new enterprises checked for no other reason than that all chance of profit would be eaten up by wages. Bth. That a general labor agency in Dunedin, with branch offices in country towns, might advantageously be established, aud the telegraph might be made use of for the purpose of communication between them. Your Committee suggest that a sufficient sum be placed upon the Estimates with the view of testing this scheme during the ensuing year. Dth. That in order to provide for persons who may be unable to obtain employment, although willing to do so, the Government should offer such work upon the roads or otherwise as may be in their power, or small contracts at rates calculated to yield 5s per day. 10th That your Committee agree with the petitioners, “ That a healthy stream of immigration ” is desirable, aud they sec no reason to recommend the Government to appropriate the L 12,000 already voted to any other purpose.