MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1650, 4 June 1879, Page 2

MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED.

SECOND EDITION

A meeting oi the unemployed was held in Cathedral square this afternoon, at about half-past 2 o’clock, when a tolerably numerous crowd of men assembled round one of the lamp-posts. Mr Lee occupied the position of chairman, and stated what had been done in reference to the matter since last meeting, and which has already been made public through the medium of the Press. Mr Hastings then come forward, and offered his opinion as to what ought to be done in the present crisis, suggesting that a registry office should be appointed, the town canvassed, and the names of all the unemployed taken down, with the object of securing work for all. Other speeches followed, Mr. Clements, addressing the meeting at. some length, but saying nothing that had not, in effect, been said at former meetings. Mr Kent, who stated he was not one of the unemployed, but had been asked by Mr Hastings to address the meeting, while sympathising with the movement, thought the Government were not to blame for anything in the shape of the present depression, and suggested that it would bo a source of great regret hereafter if the present JMinistry wore ousted from office before they had time to complete their plans for the future. Ho also expressed the opinion that the local bodies of Canterbury had sufficient funds to settle this important qnosticn without going to Wellington at all. The meeting had not conclude! when we went to press.