The Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3586, 20 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1874

The resolution proposed by Mr Fish respecting the employment of immigrants had not a courteous ring with it. It, together with the arguments by which it was supported, had the twang of political opposition where cordial co-operation might have been expected. It ought not to require any resolution to inform the Government and the people that the Corporation “ were not prepared to inaugurate new works for the employment of immigrants.” If the object were merely (f the employment of immigrants,” and not the

execution of necessary works, there can be no doubt that the Council would ! have been taking upon themselves functions which do not fall within their province. But if there is work to be done, and that work can be executed at a time when giving employment will give relief to the labor market, temporarily overstocked, the ratepayers are benefited by having the advantage of its being finished sooner than it would otherwise have been completed, the immigrants are benefited by obtaining immediate employment, and the; country is benefited through being re-! lieved of the cost qf maintaining a; number of able-bodied people i.n eu-; forced idleness. Mr Fish mistakes also; when be imagines that employing im-' migrants on additional work has a tendency to reduce wages. It is perfectly true that it would not be advisable as an aid to the Government, to offer, as a labor test, the highest rate of wages going. Work undertaken under such circumstances is expected to be done somewhat cheaper than ordinarily. It is the reciprocal benefit that society expects, and has a right to, for a good done to others. But that additional work has a tendency to maintain wages at high rates rather than to reduce them. It is something superadded to the quantity of work already being done; it does not bring the newly-arrived immigrants into competition with men already employed, but relieves both from it* The way to reduce wages is to tako the course Mr Fish marks out for the Gounod : that is, not to open up fresh works, hut to leave the unemployed to compete with those now engaged in work to be performed If, therefore, Mr Fish had in view the interest of the class he professes to be the advocate of, he has been too hasty in deciding upon the method of attaining the end Jfe has looked only on one side of the question, and that the wrong one. Mr Walter’s amendment really amounts to nothing. To say that the Council is in the habit of letting works by contract, and employs only a limited number of dpy men, is merely saying that, at the present moment, unless the Corporation adopts a system in regard to a special work, they will be departing from their customary mode of operations. What is there to prevent ijbe Government replying, there is any work that re, quires to he done at no distant date, we are prepared to treat with contractors for furnishing labor under given conditions 1” We have no doubt there are plenty of contractors who would lie quite ready to undertake such contracts on terms equally favorable to themselves and the City Council. There is too much jealousy on the part of members ol governing bodies. Instead of working together for the general good, the City Council considers it derogatory to meet the Provincial or General Coye.riWent fw* *l®

promotion of a common object. The letter of the Government stated the rate of wages being given, and Mr Fish, commenting upon it in strong language, objects to the Corporation being made “ a pauper house ” of by giving employment on those terms. He seems to have forgotten that the wages paid would be amply sufficient at Home to empty all the “pauper houses” in the IJnited Kingdom; and that it is not very generous towards those, who, having come to New Zealand at our invitation, have not been able at once to obtain suitable employment, to taunt them with pauperism, and in the same breath propose a resolution tending to reduce them to that condition. Whether they are “ cooks, butlers, or glass-eye makers,” is nothing to the purpose. They will have to learn to work for their living; for they have come to a land of labor and plenty, notwithstanding their unfortunate first experience in it, which is owing mainly to the season of the year. They, like most others in the Colony, will not, in all probability, find employment in the calling in which they have been educated. It is for us who have experienced primary difficulties to do what we can for them, although in all probability they will not have to undergo anything so hard as we have passed through. On these grounds and others that might be adduced we must object to the tone of the debate in the City Council in regard to them. The report of it will go Home in letters and newspapers, and will do more to damage our reputation than all the mismanagement of Mrs Howard or Dr Featherston.

The steamer Omeo is expected to leave Hokitika at 1 p.m. on Friday, the 21st iast. Telegrams for the Australian Colonies or Europe via Java Cable, will be received at the Telegraph Office for transmission to Hokitika up till 11 a.m. on that day. Mr Birch has kindly signified that he purposes continuing his series of letters published in the Evening Star, extending the narrative of his journey through America, and his experience in Great Britain as Emi gration Agent under the A gent-General.

At the Port Chalmers Resident Magistrate’s Court tbjs piorning, George Charleston, for using obscene language, was fined 40s, or seven days j James Thomson, for desertion from the ship Carcsburn, wss sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment. The adjourned meeting of the CityjCouncil vas held this afternoon, all the members oeing present, and his Worship the Mayor in the chair. Cr. JPiosser’s motion, “That .he Corporation tenants between Messrs Hughes and Harvey’s and ■ olice street be asked if they ar# jyilliug to submit to arbitration,” was carried. (Jjr. Fish’s motion re the appointment of arbitrators was under discussion at 4 p.m.

A public meeting was held last evening in Crickmore’s Royal Assembly Rooms, Fort Chalmers, for the purpose of appointing a committee to invest the money subscribed for the benefit of the widow and orphans of the late Mr Charles 'tsborne. The following gentlemen were appointed as the committee : —Messrs J. Crickmore, A. M’Kinnon, VV. Cider, iV-mlrew Thomson, W. Kettle, Thomson, Q. Hudson, G. L. Asher, J. Miller, R. F. Meala, gnd Captain Clark. ‘Ussrs A. Thomson and Conjjell were ippointed to canvata Dunedin for subscriptions, and it was also decided that the secre ary write to the Press Amateur I 'ramatic lub, asking them to.g\y,e an entertainment • or the above purpose. Arrangements are ! so being made to give a concert at the Port. The Dj.medin Presbytery and members o f he congregation met in the First Church ■ ast evening to consider tfce proposal to forvard a call to the Kev. Lindsay Mackay, of Victoria. Rev, Mr Blake presided and!, preached, and the Rev. Mr Cibies afterwards ■■ead the form of call. Mr Taylor moved, and Mr Leckie seconded that the name of the Rev. Lindsay Mackay, of Elsternwiqk, Victoria, be inserted in the call. There being no other candidate proposed, and no dissentients, Mp Mackay was declared duly elected minister of thff First Church. The call having been presented fop signature, it waa signed by 77 members and 2| adherents, and it was decided to leave the call with the session during two Sundays for additional signatures. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day Mary Dayey and John Mullen, charged with drunkenness, were let off with a caution. Charles Lawpon was adjudged to pay the sum of 5s per week fop the support of his daughter, an inmate of tlie Industrial School. On defendant saying that he V’onld not pay the fine, his Worship said they would take it out of him, whereupon defendant replied, “ Well, then, they had better commenceand, addressing Sergeant Beyan, added, “ Take me in charge.” His wish was immediately put into execution. Frank Thomas, for scaling a greenstone brooch and earrings of the yalus of L2 10s, the property of Catherine Ryder, 1 .y/as sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Ojur i report is held over. “Debt,” under the title of “Owing and Paid,” was reproduced at the Princess’s last evening, followed by M. Beda on the trapeze, the entertainment concluding with the burlesque of “ Rojpufua and Remus.” There was a very good attendance- “ Amy Robsart ” will be played to-ujght, Mrs Hill appearing as Amy, and Mr Steele as the Earl of Leicester. To-morrow evening the Misses May, Willis, and Martineau take a joint benefit. Miss May, who had never appeared in I)unedin prior to the commencement of the preset oeason, has made her mark, and we nave no that with more experience she will be successful ip the career she has chosen. Mias MaptineaJ alto s> here an entire stranger, and she too has fapffify | grown in favor. Miss Willis is an old Duiir edin favorite, and her merits as an actress are well known and recognised. Independent of the claims thtse. young ladies have upon, the patrons ,of the theatre, the advertised programme in itself ought to have the effect of ensuring a large attendance. We hope to see a bumper house. i Jenkins, lecturing in the United States on Perils to I'uglish society, characterises the first danger bj be that of the relation of the working man to politics and capital. “ The first danger, you will observe, is both political and social. t)f this I might" say enough to occupy a whole lecture, it' bus many' branches. There is, for instance, the agri cultural laborer ouegtion. The resurrection of hinds living half on tbs pates and half on a pittance the bare mention of whjch stiia your compassion, the slaves without being the property of their masters—ought now to : be a familiar story to you. 1 have never seen anything that has so moved me I have been moved who a I have stood by and watched thtfo hopeless dona of toil, long blinded to their rights and possibilities of improvement, opening their eyes to the blessed 1

dawn of a better day under the stirring e'oquence of Joseph Arch. When they began to gather from him the encouraging assurance that there were privileges of manhood which they might assert, and opportunit|nß to win a better future for their children, it was infinitely pitiful, yet, 0 how gladdening ! to hear them blurting out their awakening ideas and balf-timid yet invincible resolves. This movement must lead to important changes in English agriculture. it will alter the system of tenancy—it may cause the conversion of a great deal of arable land into pasturage; it will quicken emigration. Above all. it is a Radical movement when the agricultural laborer gets the franchise, and must give impetus to the political and social changes impending in threat Britain.”

The Choral Society’s first concert of the season will be given in the University Hall on Saturday, sth September. Costa’s oratorio of “ Naaman ” will comprise the programme.

A vocal and instrumental concert will be given at the Masonic Hall to-morrow evening, in aid of St. Joseph’s School. The programme is a varied one, and consists of songs, recitations, glees, violin and piano solos, and readings, Mr Sykes will preside at the piano.