THE UNEMPLOYED IN SOUTH ISLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 235, 4 October 1880, Page 4

THE UNEMPLOYED IN SOUTH ISLAND.

[United Press Association,] Danedin, September 29. Government have under consideration the question of providing work for the unemployed, and other arrangements are being made respecting men whose labor bas been accepted, on behalf of the Government, upon terms offered some time ago, and at the present time the number so engaged in Canterbury is 375, and in Otago 945 ; total, 1320. In Otago there are 225 men at work on the Livingstone branch of railway, 675 on Hindon section of Otaao Central, and 65 on the Wakariroad. It was supposed that the commencement of the Hekatere line would have absorbed a number of men engaged at Windsor, but although 300 men have been engaged for the line mentioned, its commencement has had no practical effect in diminishing the number of men on the Windsor section. The Government have decided to pay off 50 single men from works in Otago, and a similar number from works in Canterbury, and to reduce the maximum wages which single men can earn from 21a to 18a per week. Government are now advertising that the number of men employed at these works is to be decreased, and that they have made arrangements by which employers of labour can get men from the works. As the formation works on the Windsor eeotion, upon which men can be best engaged, are nearing completion, the works on this section are to be reduced as much as possible, and as the Hindon section is somewhat isolated, and the men are thereby prevented from looking for other works, it has been decided to open works on Catlin's river, Palmerston Branch, at the reclamation works, Port Chalmers, on the Toi-toi branch, and on the Orepuki line in Southland, and to transfer men to them. The number of men the new works mentioned will absorb is comparatively limited, so that tbere will still be a considerable number left on the Kiogdon section. In opening the new works it is not the intention of the Government to increase the number of men engaged os " unemployed," but merely to draft from works which have been carried on for some time past.