MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1967, 14 June 1880, Page 3

MEETING OF THE UNEMPLOYED.

A meeting of tho unemployed and others interested, was hold, according to announcement, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Saturday evening, at half-past seven o’clock. Mr Gapes took tho chair, being supported by members of the committee on the platform. Tho Hall was fairly well filled. The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to inaugurate some system by which work could be found for a large number of people who were in want of employment in Christchurch. He said he had been requested by tho committee to ask the meeting to assist him in preventing the use of any language such as was used at a late meeting of the unemployed in Cathedral square. He might also say that ha had been asked to act as treasurer or the committee, and had received a sum of 10s from a lady (who declined to give her came) as a commencement towards the fund proposed to be raised on behalf of the unemployed. In conclusion, he asked the meeting to accord a fair and patient hearing to each of the speakers. Mr Bradshaw moved the first resolution, to tho effect that two delegates be sent by tho unemployed of Christchurch to interview tho Government at Wellington on their behalf. In doing so he pointed out that the Government had been petitioned through Mr March, immigration officer, heretofore without any effect, and now the committee considered that as a last resource they should seek a personal interview with the Government, and demand employment from them, to keep want from their doors.

Mr Mathews seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Wakefield proposed—“ That this meeting pledges itself not to receive any terms from any Government officer until the return of the delegates from Wellington.” He remarked that he had been among the leaders of a similar movement on a former occasion, when one or two men only obtained employ, through truckling to Mr March, and he advised his hearers not to accept any such starvation wages as 4i 3d por day as a put off. Seconded by Mr Bradshaw and carried. Mr Mathews moved—“ That this meeting is of opinion that the unemployed will be compelled to petition and seek assistance from the United States or other governments to assist the suffering working classes of the colony to bettor their condition, if our Government, after a final appeal, fail to at once adopt measures which will give employment to the working classes by granting a system of bonuses to protect such work as can be performed in this country.” In moving this resolution, he referred to the Immigration and Public Works scheme of Sir Julius Vogel, under which a number of well paid agents were sent home and travelled through the various towns of Great Britain, inducing people to come out to the colony, and by this means many of those present had been inveigled out to this country where they found themselves in a condition of degraded poverty. This was what he and others felt to bo so hard, since they had left comfortable homes with plenty to live upon, to come out to this country, under the impression which had been conveyed to them by paid agents of the Government that they would be able to live in prosperity. In connection with this he referred to a statement appearing in a local paper to the effect that a sum of £346,963 12s lOd was lying idle in tho Provincial District of Canterbury, and this he looked upon as a glaring shame, whilst numbers of families were almost starving in the place. He asked all who could to assist him with their purses, to enable them to give effect to his resolution, and bring shame on the Government by asking other countries for assistance if they could not obtain it in New Zealand. They were not duly represented in Parliament, and he appealed to his fellow-men as free subjects of the Crown to claim their rights in this respect, whereby they might hope to put an end to such proceedings as paying a minister of the Christian religion £4OO a year to stump the country at home and induce men to come out here, where they could not live in common independence. They wanted immigration stopped altogether, not by halves. But they would never be able to make themselves heard in these matters till they could command a proper representation in Parliament, and he advised them at the next general election to choose another working man to represent them with Mr S. P. Andrews in the Assembly. [A voice—“ Put Gapes in.”] Yes; they could send no more worthy man than Mr Gapes. The fact was that they had been brought out here under false pretences, and the poor law system of England would soon be introduced hero unless the working men rose in a body and demanded their rights. The beginning might be seen, in the introduction of a soup kitchen in our midst. Was it not a shame that this should be in a country not forty years old ? This was only the thin edge of the wedge, and byand-by, unless great care was taken to prevent it, they would have a poor law rate to pay. For all these considerations, he called upon his fellow men to assist in the present movement to obtain for them their rights.

The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried. Mr Bradshaw moved—“ That a fund bo raised for charitable aid to meet the immediate wants of those whose needs could not be met by the already existing charitable institutions.” He pointed out that the soup kitchen would not meet all the cases of distress that existed in the town, as a great many men and women who were in extreme want would not degrade themselves by going to the soup kitchen. He admitted that all thanks were due to those who had interested themselves in the benevolent work, but that did not alter the fact that many respectable tradesmen and laborers, who were pinched by want, would not take advantage of it j and it" was proposed to raise a separate fund to meet such cases, and he hoped it would be successful.

The motion was seconded by Mr Anderson. Mr Lang also spoke to the question, and explained that he (although not one of the unemployed) took part in the proceedings as a sympathiser with those of his fellow-men who wore suffering. He spoke at considerable length, to the effect that the working-men had been very much neglected by the State, and the evils of conservatism (which they had witnessed in the old country) were being repeated here. He objected to the property tax, but in any case, he thought “ private effects ” ought to be taxed, so that the luxuries of the rich should come under its oneration.

■ The motion was carried. Some further discussion took place, without any motion before the meeting, and one speaker advocated the abolition of the Legislative Council.

The question of appointing delegates to go to Wellington was then raised. The unemployed committee had recommended that Messrs Anderson (secretary) and Bradshaw be the delegates.

A difference of opinion arose as to whether it was advisable; to send any delegates, on a suggestion of one of those present that the delegates “ might not come back,” at which there was much laughter. It was also pointed out by several speakers, seriously, that there was just as much probability of effecting their purpose from Christchurch as by sending to Wellington, as the delegates would not be able to exert any more influence on the Government by a personal interview than they could [through their representatives, besides whioh'there was the question of expense, it being contended that the money could be better expended by assisting those who were in want. It was ultimately decided not to send delegates, and a motion) carried to the effect that the foregoing resolutions bo forwarded to Wellington. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. At the hall door a collection was made on behalf of the charitable aid fund, and a fair sum of money was obtained by that means.