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Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 147, 1 June 1893, Page 2

The Minister of Labour, when waited on by the Mayor of Christchurch on behalf of the men out of work, explained that tho Labour Bureau was not intended for znakiag work, but for seeing that men were sent to places where works wore going on. On the Mayor complaining that when men finished their work in the country districts thoy invariably made for the city, which fact always helped to swell the number on tho books of tho Bureau, Mr Keoves replied that this had always beon the case in New Zealand where the travelling population had become ono of tho institutions of tho country. Ho (Mr Reeves) considered that local bodies should do something towards finding work, ©specially for elderly people. lie thought it was scarcely fair to throw the whole onus oF liudiug work upon the Government. From this last remark we may infer that the " unemployed " difficulty, which the appointment of the portfolio of Minister of Labour wa& to effectually

deal with, is just as far off from abolition as ever. And the Government are desirous of relieving themselves of the heaviest part of the burden, by putting the maintenance of those who are too old to work at anything but light jobs, on the shoulders of the local bodies. Ratepayers in the country districts have already to contribute largely in this direction by Charitable Aid, and with reduced subsidies, which promise soon to reach the vanishing point, they will naturally object to take further responsibilities.

The melancholy death in the Oroua river, at Apiti, of that fine young fellow Donald Clarke, which took place on Tuesday last, is a Btern commentary on the laxity of those whose duty it is to endeavor to have this dangerous crossing bridged. The money value of a bridge is but contemptible when compared with the value of a human life. The responsibility rests on the settlers themselves, the Road Board, and the Government. This is a wide surface, but we are decidedly of opinion that the necessary agitation should have been initiated by those more immediately interested long ago. Had that been done the members of the Kiwitea Road Board would have, we feel assured, assisted as far as lay in their power to have tbeir wishes carried out and the necessary money raised under the Loans to Local Bodies' Act. That the Government will relieve the ratepayers of the responsibility and undertake the work, or complete it at tho cost of the colony is highly improbable; but, still, an effort might even he made in that direction, and something accomplished. We would urge that immediate action be taken to have a bridge built so that no more valuable lives may be sacrificed in this treacherous river at that fatal crossing.

It will be remembered that when the Hon. R. J. Seddon was in FeiJding, a deputation, headed by the Mayor, Mr E. Goodbehere, waited on that gentleman and impressed on him the necessity for the Government to appoint a resident clerk of the court at Feilding. Yesterday Mi Goodbehere received a reply to the effect that at present the Minister of Justice ia unable to comply with the request. The recommendation made by the Justices with reference to the appointment of c Justice of the Peace at Pohangina, and the need for a constable at Pemberton, will receive consideration.

Now that the Borough Council Chamber* have to be vacated, and possession giver to The Colonial Bank of New Zealand al the end of the current month, we trusl that at the meeting of the Council to b< held this evening the question of erecting suitable Municipal Buildings will be opened up. The Borough is quite important enough now for the expense to b( undertaken.