The Unemployed in Wellington.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 297, 25 April 1894, Page 3

The Unemployed in Wellington.

THE PREMIER'S VIEWS. (PBE PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wb_l«ingTO>j, April 24. A deputation from tnis morning's unemployed meeting waited on the Premier this afternoon. The deputation urged that works be found for some 300 men who were out of employment, and complained that a drunken sailor who had just arrived from the Old Country, and was discharged from his ship, had received work within the last day or so. The Premier at once enquired into the truth of the latter story, and discovered that through base misrepresentation the man had obtained work, but Mr Seddon promised that he should not long enjoy it. In reply to the deputation the Pre- j mier complained of the terms of the advertisement calling the unemployed together, in which it was said " We must have work." He wished them to distinctly understand that the Government would n t be dictated to, and that such meetings were unnecessary. Every effort was being made to provide, by means of productive works, employment for the surplus labor of the colony, but Government had no means to provide merely relief works. He also pointed out that Government could not continue to provide for the surplus labor which arrived from Melbourne and Sydney through the establishment of cheap tares. The Labour Bureau was doing good work, and its officers, he said, had proved themselves true friends of tbe workers. He regretted to hear of poverty anywhere, but denied there were 300 men out of work here. At the same time every cue would be tnken to give work to the deserving where possible. Tbis Day. Tbe Labor Bureau intend to prevent the sailor, who was allowed to obtain employment uuder misrepresentation, being put on to works.