THE UNEMPLOYED.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2272, 18 August 1870, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

This morning a number of the unemployed assembled in front of the Government Buildings, for the purpose of obtaining an interview with his Honor the Deputy-Superinten-dent respecting the work proposed to be given them. Six men were appointed a deputation. Their names were VV. Brown, W. May, Thomas Miller, D. Ross, James Williams, and Andrew Francis Dowlan. On their being introduced, his Honor asked their wishes, and on being told they wished for employment, he informed them that there were advertisement's in both papers intimating that the Government were prepared to give them work if the men were inclined to take it. Mr Oliver, the Government Engineer of Roads, was called. The men said they had not been to see the work, and asked what it was ? Mr Oliver explained that there were five or six miles of road to be made at North Taieri, and a bridle track at Blueskin, and that stones wanted breaking at the Water of Le ih at 3s per cubic yard. One' of the deputies, on being told the road work was per chain, said that no person could make more than 2s fid per day, and then he had to provide tools. ■ They got a pound a eba'n, and he knew it took one man three weeks to form a chain. It was impossible for a man with a family to live out of it. Mr Oliver said there were men earning five shillings a day. His Honor suggested it would be better for the men with families to take work at the Water of Leith. It was objected by two or three of the deputStion that as dragging the stone to the place where it would he broken would cost lOd a yard, unless a man were well skilled he could not make a living. One of the deputies said they were willing to take (is a day. Another said it was a question of wages. His Honor told them they must be aware this was the dullest mouth of the year, and the object of the Government was simply to help those who had not work during the present month. In a short time there would be any amount of work, as the railway would be started. It was objected that poor people could not undertake contracts. His Honor recommended that the men should go and see the work before they raised objection to it, rnd that the deputation should inform those who waited outside of the arrangements made. The deputation thanked his Honor, and withdrew.