MEETING- OF UNEMPLOYED.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 971, 6 August 1877, Page 2

MEETING- OF UNEMPLOYED.

A meeting of the unemployed was held this morning at the Market Place. About 400 persons were present before the proceedings, which were of a most orderly and business like nature, had terminated. Shortly after 10 o’clock, Air Walker (chairman of the previous meeting) having mounted a barrel, said that it was an adjourned meeting from Saturday, and the first thing to do was to appoint a chairman. Air Walker was then unanimously elected chairman.

The Chairman said the first duty of the meeting should be, in his opinion, to pass a hearty vote of thanks to the newspapers for the very just and favorable report they had given of Saturday’s proceedings, and the honest manner he had been spoken of. In this vote he, of course, included the reporters. The motion was seconded, and on being put was carried by acclamation. The Chairman said they left off on Saturday by appointing a deputation to wait upon the Mayor, to see what the Council might he inclined to do for [them. His Worship received them most kindly, and spoke very friendly, but could not hold out the slightest hopes that the Council would assist them. Of course he (the Chairman) knew they had no claim on the Council, That body spent all the rates and taxes from the working men and others they could lay their hands upon, and he was of the opinion that there were some iiTthe Council who would spend a great deal more if they could get hold of it. (Laughter.) His Worship the Mayor had told the deputation that tenders hud been called for a supply of stones, and that when received employment might possibly be found, for those most needy amongst them. After this were done he (the chairman) believed they would no doubt be stacked for them to be looked at until it was seen how the year’s accounts balanced, instead of men being employed to spread them, and help to tide over the dull season. (Applause.) The deputation next asked his Worship to write to the Government, asking them to assist by providing some class of work, and this the Mayor promised to do after he learnt what result had been arrived at by that morning’s meeting. His Worship also promised to confer with the Council as early as possible, but did not seem sanguine of their giving assistance. It would now be for the workmen to look to the General Government, but if they were to be guided by the Treasurer’s statement which appeared in last Tuesday’s papers, he did not think they had evpn much to hope from that quarter. He did not understand much about New Zealand finances, but he saw there had been a profit of a few hundred thousands. They' had saved some £3OOO or more on the railways, and where did that money come from ? Why, out of the working men’s pockets, by cutting down wages, and decreasing expenses of departments to the hardship of those retained. £30,000 had been-saved on immigration, and judging by his own experience and a large majority of others, ho could only suppose the amount had been saved as they could not induce people to come out —[laughter]— and in the present state of things they were yet fold that a great deal of money would be required for immigration this year. [dlisapprobation.j The working men of Canterbury would now have. To believe that tle.d public Works policy wu» a thing of the past, and face their position it) a manly manner and sso they would to leek tc. JJAjpPlwweJ

gration and the public works policy had been twins suckled by the same mother, and if one had been weaned why should the mother continue still to feed the other ? [Loud applause.] The Government had talked about opening up the country and settling it. He believed they had already settled it, with a vengeance. [Laughter.] What did they mean by opening up the country ? Certainly large blocks of land had been sold, but they had not been bought by working men, and even if the working men had merely been placed on the land the G overnment could not have called that opening it up, as there were thousands of acres of land which would not keep a wood hen in its natural state, and would have been useless unless the occupiers were placed in a position to break it up and work it. The men were here and must live, and if the public works policy were stopped, immigration must stop also, and if the Government did not stop it, the people must do it. All the tradesmen of Canterbury and the working public were as much interested in this question as those present were. There were of course some who did not care if the working class were piled 40ft high on each other’s heads, but the trading classes were dependent upon each other, as if the latter had the money they spent it, and all classes were benefited thereby. A new system had been introduced in the railways by which the men’s wages were stopped, some as much as for five weeks, and others for a fortnight (that would be where different payments where made, monthly or otherwise). A week’s pay was stopped, and thus a. nice little sum was accumulated, which would no doutt be entered as a credit balance of profits with which next year would commence, bait this practice was" simply obtaining interest upon working men’s wages, to which the latter were justly entitled. [Applause.] What were they to do if they could not obtain employment. They and their families could not starve. They must live, and if they could not live here, means should be taken to send them where they could live. Though he had worked hard here and supported his family he had not been able to acquire a stake in the country, and money would have to be found to get them elsewhere. If the Government had hundreds of thousands of pounds to spend, and so much on immigration, some of it should be spent in getting the men out of the country instead of bringing others into it—(loud applause)— and if at any future time Hew Zealand should ever look up again (and this he much doubted, as the management of the country was a disgrace) then many of them would no doubt take a look back again. The working men could do no good here, and the Government ought to send them where they would be of good to themselves and others. (Cheers.) At present an artisan was no good to the country, and the Government might now as well employ the Maoris to carve a few more statues similar to those in the Museum, as a dummy in the present policy of the country was of equal service as aworking man. (Laughter and cheers.) If the Government, after having induced them to come here, Lad now done with them, they ought in fairness to,help them to where they would do the country and themselves good. The financial statement showed it had been framed without counting heads, as the colony’s debt had been compared favorably with the Hational Debt athome. Had this not been done possibly the Treasurer might have found cut his mistake. He (the chairman) would read them a circular which had been sent through all the different districts at home, and a copy of which had appeared in various newspapers. Many of them present owed their present position to the representations contained in it. It was as follows : Free Emigration to New Zealand. Unparalleled Demand for Labor! Great Advance in Hates of Wngps ! 73U miles of Railway Works. Employment for 10,000 more Workmen. Free Passages for Laborers and Mechanics. In consequence of the great demand for labor in the colony, and the difficulty in getting men at any price for the public works, the Government of New Zealand will grant frea passages to strong, healthy, sober, and industrious married and single agricultural laborers, navvies, ploughmen, shepherds, mechanics, &c., &c. The emigrants, on arrival in New Zealand, will be received by the immigration officer of the port, and conducted to the Government Immigration Depot, where they will be lodged and maintained —enabling tbair families to get “ washed and mended up,” while the men are making their engagements for employment, | either on the railways, at farm labor, or other work in the colony. As the Government liavc entered into contracts which will provide employment for all the emigrants to he sent out, no fears need be entertained respecting obtaining work immediately on landing. Rates of wages according to last advices: — Carpenters, bricklayers, masons, plasterers, wheel - weights, painters, and other skilled artizans, Us to TJs (id per day of eight hours. (A large demand for ropbmakers, bootmakers, and tailors at 8s to 10s (id; also for turners and litters, farm labourers, &e.) Outdoor labourers, (is to 8s per day of eigiit hours. Married farm servants (man and wife), JtffiO to L/0 a year, all found. Farm labourers, ploughmen, shepherds, &c. (single), A4O to 4150, all found.

Free passages aro also given to single female domestic servants as cooks, housemaids, nursemaids, general servants, dairymaids, &c. The wages offering for cooks is <£3o to <£4s a year, all found; housemaids, <£2s to £35 ; general servants, <£2s to <£3s ; nursemaids, £2oto £25 ; little girls to assist in housework, £1(! to £2O ; sick nurses, 30s per week. (Then; is a lai’ge demand for single young women as servants, at from £25 to £35 a year. Sometimes upwards of a hundred employers, several of whom come from long distances from the country to meet the emigrant ships, have to leave without being able to obtain servants.)

On the voyage the single women, that is, all unmampd females above twelve years of age, are placed under the charge of a matron appointed by the Government, and are berthed in a separate compartment of the ship distinct from hhe ’other emigrants. On arrival at (he colony the young women arc lodged and maintained free of charge at the Government immigration depot until situations are obtained at the above wages. The single men are also berthed by themselves and the married couples, with children under twelve years of age, arc placed in the middle compartment of the ship. Prices of Provisions in New Zealand—Beef, 3d to 5d per lb; mutton, 2d to od; beef, (id to Od; potatoes, kl per lb. Particulars and application ioims may be obtained at the New Zealand Free Emigration Agency, Grove road, Bow road, London, E., by special appointment of the New Zealand Government. [The reading of tho circular caused considerable amusement.] He (the chairman) had read some short time since that some persona had obtained passages by false pretences,, as they turned out to be doll’s' eye makers. [Laughter.] Well, all he could say was that he sincerely pitied the’poor devils who got the passages, us they had bettor far have stopped at home. FLauginer aad applause.] The speake? to bow tfeo

contrary to the representations in ihc circular —to get the immigrants off the books after their arrival. After all had been engaged who coidd get employment an official would go round to the contractors and ask them aoh to make room for a few men if only for a week or two. Sometimes on Government ;jobs men would be discharged to make this room, and if found, better men would be taken on again; that was after the new comers had been sent away, and the latter having left, the depot, and been taken off the books, had then of course to hunt for themselves. They had heard in the advertisement that ropemakers were much wanted in the country, and he thought this was right, as if the present state of tilings continued they require a good deal of rope here. [Loud laughter.] -fhey had also heard read that outdoor laborers received from 6s to 8s per day. Now lie would like to know what those men (pointing to some men working opposite the Supreme Court buildings) were getting, and he supposed they would call them outdoor laborers. (A Voice; 4s a day.) Relative to the female servants, he thought that was alt New Zealand wasgoodfor. He had read of a meeting of immigrants that had been held in New Zealand some little time ago, iit which some of the speakers stated that they had been induced to come out on the understanding that they would receive an acre of land and a cottage for TlO. When they got out _ they found they were charged £7O, and in answer to their remonstrances were politely told that the cottage was of a better description than had been intended. These people had also been told at home that they would bo given constant employment at 7s per day and found, but what they actually received was four days’ work at 5s per (fay., so that while the price of the cottage and land had been increased 100 per cent., the rate of wages had been reduced 200. He would admit that the country was not yet half peopled, but what was the use of their staying here under the present’state of things ! J Even 50 acres of land, without the means to plough and work it, would be of no use to them, and the consequence was they must walk about the streets making Grecian statues of themselves. [Loud laughter.] The Treasurer said the country wanted rest, but the working men did not want rest. They had had quite enough lately. (Laughter.) He should think New Zealand had rested sufficiently during the last 100 years, especially during the time when it was only disturbed by a Maori fight now and then. Possibly the gentleman meant that lie would rest from having stayed up so many hours to cook the accounts, as they certainly must have been cooked to show prosperity at the present time in the country. (Loud applause.) The Treasurer had said that he hoped the House would give matters their earnest consideration, and ho (the chairman) sincerely hoped they would and consider the number out of employment, and if they determined to spend more money on immigration and stop charitable aid; he hoped the Assembly would let the former money be spent in sendhm those working men who desired it out of the country. If the workmen did not soon obtain employment the tradesmen themselves would soon require charity. The Government policy had been a blind policy. It had never settled any of the people on the land, and the money now voted for immigration should not be spent in bringing more people out. [Loud applause.] He would like any person present who desired to do so, to address the meeting. Mr Connor, who next mounted the barrel, expressed the regret he experienced in seeing so many willing men out of employment. As the chairman had said it was a disgrace to sec so many working men unable to obtain work. He trusted that if the Government would not find them employment they would enable them to go where they could get it. [Applause.] Mr Palmer, who next spoke, said he had been three and a half years in the colony. He had been called an agitator, and was told to wait a little while longer, but this had been a ruse to defer the time when class would be raised against class, so that some would be able to obtain workmen at their own price. This had been done in that coilntry of slaves —America. When a Christchurch agent was in England he was glad to shake hands with them there and offer them a chair ; but now lie seemed only too glad to slink away when he saw any of them as if ashamed of the representations he had made them at the time. [Disapprobation.] There were still agents in England making misTepresemations, as lately one of them when asked what sort of place New Zealand was, replied, “O! it is a perfect paradise.” [Loud laughter.] In the barracks they were told not to show out until they were engaged, and this official, who acted not unlike a pauper master, would smirk and how, tell them everything would be all right, and this control and surveillance was merely to prevent them going before engagement where they would obtain correct information of actual facts to transmit to their friends, until eventually they were too sick and disheartened to lake the trouble so. The vessels should have been allowed fo arrive gradually to allow of the people fairly settling themselves before the next arrivals. [Applause.] If.they visited their prisons they would find them full of, prostitutes, and <why ? because sufficient discretion had not been used in choosing the immigrants. [Applause.] The country was not half peopled, and those who could work should be found employment, and the others who could not or would not should be sent away as useless : for it was not right to have to pay taxes for such as those. [ Applause.] More discrimination should bo used in future in selecting immigrants, and immigration stopped at present until the working people hero 'been absorbed* ’ ‘The working men had not been able to obtain a piece of laud as they had hoped, and it was only fair that under the present state of things tho Government should afford them some assistance by finding work for them. The speaker then referred to riots at home, when the 4th Dragoon Guards had been called out, and which had been prevented by the philunthrophy of Dr. Temple, Bishop of Kxcter, by whose means fearful bloodshed had b.cen saved; He trusted they would never see anything ot the kind in Christchurch, and hoped that some good gentlemen would emulate Dr. Temple’s noble example and step in at the present juncture. They ought to be proud of tho progress made iu the city and suburbs during the last three years, which looked far {.lUl’erout io ihc mornlugl when he stood on the hills and saw the number, of birdcages w(th which Christchurch was studded. (Laughter.) New Zealand might yet he made a very great colony. Ho had been 2u years a polisher and had never seen such wood at home that they possessed here, some kinds of-which he considered superior to any in the world. If tjrey had oji honest agent at home this po sw4 e awd ii

thing was not done soon, depend upon it the Government might have cause to regret having brought them out here. Strikes never did any good in the world, and what the working men now wanted was to,be shown Christian brotherhood. He had not. spoken against any particular class, as classes must exist everywhere, and he only wished they had such another man ns Dr Temple to advise and encourage them in their present circumstances. [Applause.] Tho Mayor, who was seen to he present, was asked by the chairman whether he woidd favor the meeting with a few words. His Worship said he would rather not take any part in the meeting. lie had told tho men on Saturday that lie could not hold out any hopes of the Council supplying them with work. He had promised to communicate with tho Colonial Secretary, giving tho number and class of men who desired employment in tho hope that the Government would take means to find work for at least a short time. Ho would do all ho had promised the deputation, but considered it would bo out of place for him to get up and address the meeting. [Loud applause.] Tho Chairman in further remarks said it would not perhaps ho advisable to pass any resolutions until the replies had been received by the Mayor. Then his Excellency and the Government might be addressed by petitions signed by each man, giving his name, address, and occupation. [A Voice —“ And one ought also ho sent to tho Home Government —[Applause]—praying tho Governor to communicate with the Governments of the other colonies, and asking that means might be taken to distribute those desirous of going throughout those colonies. (A draft of Ihc proposed petition was then read.) And it would bo advisable to form a working committee to canvass the city and suburbs.

Mr Kent, who appeared with a quantity of paper in his hand, said a misapprehension prevailed throughout the town, and also he believed by the Mayor, as to the number of working men really out of employment, and lie would ask them to come forward and put their names and occupations down. Two hundred and fifty-two persons acceded to the request, after which the meeting was adjourned until to-morrow morning at ten o’clock.