UNEMPLOYED AND IMMIGRATION.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2221, 20 June 1870, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED AND IMMIGRATION.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. >?ik, — Will you kindly allow me a small space in your journal for a few remarks upon the unemployed. In your leading article, dated June 16th, you state that “ the unemployed recommend that all laborers shall take the suicidal step of writing Hopie, and telling tire unemployed at Homo not to come out here. ” Sir, I fail to see how such a step would be suicidal; I believe it to be their duty. They should not only tell them not to come here—they should tell them that, if they do come, they will find gangs of felons doing work which ought to be done by the free, honest, and wellbehaved men of this City ; that they must be prepared to tramp through the country during the greater part of the year looking for employment, and no one to give them employment even if they would work for Is per day. They should tell them that in this boasted centre of civilisation and wealth there are hundreds of hard-working honest men and their families who can scarcely get food to eat, and in many cases, were it not for the kindness of the storekeepers, would not be able to get it at all; whilst the felon is encouraged in every way, a veil fed, clothed, and cared for—in fact, lie is far better off than the greater part qf tho workmen of this town. Tell them also that onoe they land in Otago, they must be prepared (if they wish to get on) to act in direct opposition to that which, their conscience tells them is right; that they must cast aside all honest principles, act the rogue and hypocrite, so that they may live and thrive in this Christian land. I say, sir, that that man who neglects to use his utmost endeavors to prevent popv Ayretches from being deluded to these shores, is not only neglecting his duty to his felloAvcrcatnrc, man, but also to his God. It is quite evident that the present state of affairs Avill not be improved by pouring shiploads of pauper immigrants into this or any other Province. A healthful stream of immigration will soon find its way to these shores, Avhen it is known that there is any chance of getting laud at a reasonable price. Yon also state that there aro capitalists prepared to employ labor at a fair rate of wages, I can safely say there are plenty prepared to work foi a fair rate of Avages. If, sir, you Avould inform the unemployed Avhere those capitalists are to he found, you would, I feel sure, ensure to yourself no small amount of gratitude from those have the misfortune tq be called “ the unemployed." I am, &c., BEKStmo. Clark street, Dunedin, June 20, 1870,