THE UNEMPLOYED.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 972, 7 August 1877, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

The adjourned meeting of the unemployed was held at the Market place this morning, at 10 o’clock. There was a very large attendance. Mr Walker was again requested to occupy the chair, and after giving a glowing eulogium on the Press of Canterbury, he spoke of the necessty for immediate action being taken. Mr McLaren next spoke, and urged the meeting to go in procession to the Collector of Customs as the only Government representative here, and ask him to communicate with the General Government in Wellington with a view of securing work and food for those who were unemployed. After some little discussion, it was resolved to march in a body to the Custom House and interview the Collector. Those present were then formed into a procession, headed by the chairman, and walked through Colombo street up Hereford street to the Custom House, where they congregated. Mr Walker and two or three others were selected as a deputation and waited on Mr Rose. Mr Walker said they represented some 300 or 400 men who were unemployed, and ivho were outside. They had waited on Mr Rose, as they had been told that he was the only Government official in Canterbury, and they would ask him to telegraph to the Government telling him their state, and requesting some assistance for them. Mr Rose said he was ready to do anything in his power to alleviate distress, but he had nothing whatever to do with what was required of him. The Mayor of .Christchurch was the only person who could deal with it, and he believed that his Worship was now in communication with the General Government on the subject. Mr Walker said that such was the case, but while the grass was growing the steed was starving, and to wait until the Government sent an answer would be to wait some time. Mr Rose said that this matter was quite foreign to his department. He woidd promise to telegraph to the Government, stating what had been done, and that a deputation had waited upon him. As to cases of individual distress they had better apply to Mr March, the administrator of charitable aid. The deputation then withdrew, after thankMr Rose for his courtesy. The Chairman then mounted outside on a window sill, and informed the crowd what had been the result of the application to the Collector of Custom. Whilst in the middle of his address his Worship came up, and after a conference with the chairman, Mr Walker said Ins Worship the Mayor had, as he promised on Saturday, conferred w ith the City Councillors as to a remedy for the present state of things. The Council had determined to expend £IOOO in forming the belt, on the inside, and to request the Heathcote Road Board to join them in expending a, similar amount in forming the outside. _ They had also resolved to communicate with the Government and ask them to expend some money on works. The wages would be os per day, and he hoped that all would do a fair day’s work. In reply to a question, His Worship said that he did not know exactly when they could commence work. It was a matter for the surveyor to see when he could get carts sufficient to employ the men. So soon as he could do this the works would be pushed on as expeditiously as possible. The meeting then adjourned to the Market Place, whence, after a little discussion, those present proceeded to Mr March’s office. Mr March said that he would communicate with the Government on the subject, and he had no doubt that w ork would be found for them. He would ask them to come to his office at 10 a.m. the next day, when he would very ’.likely have the answer of the’ Government.