THE UNEMPLOYED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 230, 28 September 1880, Page 4

THE UNEMPLOYED.

The " Star " gives a report of a Vather lively open air meeting recently called and addressed in Auckland by Mr. Garrard, who for some time past has been endeavoring to get up an agitation among the unemployed of that city. The following is an extract from Mr. Garrad'd speech :— • The City Council kept the same men on the roads for months at a time, and they kept these favorites, and let tbe unpmploved Btarve — yes starve. (A voice : They have got as pood a risht to the work as you.) He did not know about that. These men, he knew. w ro Btrnnerers, and meu like himself who bad bled for their country, were left out in the cold. 1 They did not want stonf-cracking. (A voice : It's better than noihing ) If he could e«f Boooe pi ok and shovel work he (Mr Garrarr*) would guarantee to provide sixty picks and shovels. (A person in the crowd thought ha wouldn't be trusted with tools more than any one else.) The Council got everything done cheap— (A voice ; Quite right too.) — they try to do away with manual labor, end now look at tbe footpaths ! — they'll laßt for ages. (A voice : Too little repairs wanted, eh I) Yep, too little repairs wanted. And — another thing— what. about the tramway in Queenstreet ? It would employ a few men for a week or so, and after that there would be more thin ever out of employ. (A voice : You're a mean man, Garrard, why we've got to pay rates for all the work.) Then they would not want any cabmen running up and down tbe street ? ( A cabman : Now Garrard, shut vp — leave the cabmen nlone ; they don't want you to finil work for them.). [The cabman got so excited that a policeman had to interfere, and he was removed to a respectable distance, but he returned again and' renewed the attack.] They could trust him (Garrard) to get work for the unemployed. He had been successful in agitatiDg in New South Wales, and if they did not get work h?re, they must go with him to hia beautiful country. When the members for Parliament commenced " spouting " again, Garrard Would be there and talk to them. (A voice : Put up as a member Garrard.) Well, if I do, you won't have a man who wilt blow his nose on your white shirt. If you put me in — and I may contest the inext election — you will have a true representative, and none of these nasty, crusty laws. Now, are you willing for pick and shovel work ? (A voice : I Bay, put up for City West.) If you are witling to take the work if I get it, ..hold up your bands. (One hand was held up.) Well, now, I want the whole of the unemployed to meet me hero at 10.30 on Monday morning and march down to tbe City Council to ask them to put tbe men now in their employ off the roads, and jjive us a few: weeks. (A voice : You're a mean ' roan, Garrard. Wbere'll you put the men you turn off ? They are just as good as you.) No, they ought to turn theee strangers out, who bad come into the colony and taken tbe bread from the old hands (A voice : I Bay, Garrard, I'll give you a feed now ; great laughter.) This is a free country, and if we put an application in ; that settles tbe matter. (A voice : Not at nil.) , They should employ men who lived in the city ; not men who had nice houses in the suburbs. (A voice : They worked

for them, and that's more than you'd do) If they kept these men there what would others do ? (A voice s Try Dr. Tanner's faßting system.) We must shift, I suppose. Well, men, we will go to the Couooil on Monday. (A voice : To put good men out ?) Oh, never mind them* Now, if any one of you don't want stone breaking say No. (One voice : No, no.) They could earn 103 o-week at it ; but how could men who wore not used to crack stones f What they wanted was to turn the young men out of the Government officep,. and put "ageder" men in. (Here a gentleman well known for his hot mufllos and crumpets offered to employ Mr Garrard selling muffins if ho would dry up and come down, but the lecturer did not think it good enough.) The young fellows oould co where the lt ageder" couldn't. He would tell them an " antidote 5> (00; no I ") about what he ha:l done in Sydney. (A voice: You have not lone much here ) There was once bgentleman that he interviewed, id Sydney, (A voice i Stick to New Zealand.) — he was a real gootleman, and he had tried to get the old men into office. ("Shut up" from all sides.) At this Mr Garrard got rather angry, and, leaving the " autidote," subsided amid the yelling of toe crowd. Seeing. Mr Garrard in a fur, a friend of his answering to the name of "Joe," went to bis assistance and spoke a few words on the question. He said he hat) been many years in the country, and had taken something. (A voice : To-night ?) Joe did not deny it, and after making a few wandering observations, got ofl his perch amid great laughter. Mr Garrard again, oame forward, but could not get a hearing, which put him out so much that he restored to rather unseemly language. He stated he had never had a rowdier meeting, and that he did not think much of them. For some further time be strove to obtain a hearing, but in vain. He was frequently interrupted by persons putting rather perplexing questions to him, which exhausted all bis " antido'e." He had been advocating the ctuse of tbe cabmen when & worthy Jehu drove up in a hansom and exclaimed " Come od> Canard,' jump in and we'll go and have a cold fourpenny." Garrard at first pretended not to understand the remark. Suddenly he was seen to leap from his stand, get into tbe cab, and was driven off to the nearest hotel amid the 0 cere and groans of the crowd assembled.