THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1669, 26 June 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1879.

In our Tuesday's issue will be found a letter, forwarded by Mr. Kent on behalf of the Committee of the Unemployed, with reference to an article that appearod in our issue of the previous Saturday. In that article we pointed out a method which we considered would obviate the necessity of applying to the public for subscriptions, with a view to the establishment of a central froo labour registry. Mr. Kent now informs us that the committee have, after due consideration, come to the conclusion that such a registry would not succeed, that they have consequently abandoned the idea, and have determined to establish, if possible, a registry supported by yearly contributions. This fact, of course, alters the position of affairs and many of the remarks that we made, while applying to the first proposition of the committee, would not apply to their later resolution. There is, however, ouo inherent defect that, it appears to us, must attach to any labor agency pure and simple which may bo established in this city. As we pointed out in our Saturday's article scarcity of labor is not the normal condition which obtains in this community. There are long poriods during which work is abundant for any man who is willing to exert himself. Now, the expenses connected with tho maintenance of an agency will run on during tho entire course of tho year. An officer must, of necessity, be in constant attendance, a room or rooms will have to be hired, firing and light will have to bo provided, and we should bo somewhat surprised if the committee, wore they to go thoroughly into tho matter of ways and moans, were not to find that tho annual expense they would have to incur would bo something considorablo. It would also havo to be borne in mind that persons who woro ssro of constant employment would hardly care to subscribe towards tho

enterprise. It is a poor undertaking that in any way relies on the philanthropy of the public at large, and the promoters of the labor agency would most probably find that the onus of keeping up the establishment would fall almost entirely on thoso who could least afford it, namely, those who were not in constant employment. A writer signed " Fair Play " has a very well put letter in our Saturday's issue, in tho course of which he mentions the fact that, in Melbourne, tho Government cany on a labor agency, partly for the convenience of employers and partly to protect the working classes. The very fact of such an institution existing by means of Government aid is a proof that in Victoria, at all events, it is not considered an undertaking which can bo oxpocted to bo self-supporting. If the committee of our unemployed were to see their way towards gaining a Government grant in aid of maintaining a labor agency their position would bo ontirely altered, and tho greatest of their difficulties, namely, the financial one, would bo removed. As tho matter stands, we fear that, supposing this registry to bo established, tho managers would, as work grew more . plentiful, find subscriptions dwindle, and would soon arrive at the conclusion that there was no inherent vitality in the undertaking. But these remarks solely apply to a labor agency, pure and simple. Mr. Kent has invited us to give to tho committee any suggestions that occur to us, and wo have much pleasure in acceding to his request. Now, it appears to us that the formation of a labour agency would meet with great success at tho present moment, were it to bo combined with a working men's club. In our issue of the 31st ultimo, appeared an article referring to a remark on this subject made by Mr. Hastings on tlte occasion of an open-air meeting of the unemployed. The article in question strongly advocated the immediate establishment of such a club. It was pointed out that, as far as provisions for the comfort of the working man are concerned, Christchurch is a long way behind cities of an equal size; that in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland working mens' clubs flourished, and that the working men of these cities were sensible of the advantages they derived from them. On all grounds we stated our belief that the establishment of such an institution for Christchurch was most desirable. To this belief wo aro more strongly wedded than ever, now that the question of the formation of a labor agency has cropped up. The two institutions would work so admirably together that. it seems almost self-evident that tho one is the complement of the other. Looked at in every aspect, it seems apparent that this is tho case. Taking tho question from a social point of view—where could a better place be found for working-men to make enquiries and register their names and their callings than in an office in a building whore at the same time they might interchange opinions and read the journals necessary to supply them with all due information about the labor market. Taking the question again from a financial point of view, tho officials necessary to manage the working mens' club, might well devote a part of their time to tho registry department, and, in times when work was plentiful, there would not bo found in the registry office an unemployed individual sitting like patience on a monument waiting for other unemployed ones who were not likely to come, and drawing a certain salary as a reward for the operation. Indeed it seems that a golden opportunity has now arrived for the establishment of a working men's club. All classes of society are now interested in the labor question, and would be willing to subscribe towards what must bo felt would be a most desirable addition to the institutions of the city. The committee that might take the work in hand would find that employers of labor would far more readily give money towards such an institution than towards the formation of an office which would, after all, in no way ameliorate tho condition of tho men who were in their employ. All sections of working men, employed and unemployed, would take tho matter up. A social club for the working classes is an absolute want in Christchurch, and it would indeed be surprising if they did not, when an opportunity occurred of forming one, sojzo it with avidity. The subscription per annum would not be large; indeed the 4s which Mr. Kent suggests should bo that for a person wishing to take advantage of the registry office, would go a long way towards it. As for first expenses, such as the fitting up of rooms, &c., wo fool confident that thoro would be no difficulty in raising the amount required. Tho institution need not be on a gigantic scale at starting; it would develop as occasion required. To the men who could not at present afford to subscribe a sum, however small, we feel confident that their moro lucky fellow workmen would not grudge the freo use of the registry department of tho club. In such an arrangement thoro would bo vitality, and wo feel certain that it would, in tho long run, prove satisfactory. Wo trust, at all events, that the subject will bo well ventilated at tho public meeting to bo held