MEETING OF UNEMPLOYED IN CHRISTCHURCH.
(PEE PRESS AGENCY.) Christchurch, Saturday. At a meeting of Christchurch unemployed, in accordance with an advertisement calling upon unemployed to meet in front of the new Post Office this morning, about fifty persons assembled. Mr. John Lee, better known in Christchurch as !‘Jaqk Lee,” ascended thp pedestal and opened the proceedings by addressing those present “as fellow workmen.” He said the object of the meeting was to devise some means of relief during the present great stagnation which existed. They ought to give every one to understand that they intended to put their shoulders to the wheel and make that to their advantage which was now to their disadvantage. They ought to assert their rights as men ; they had been brought out to the colony under false pretences at great personal sacrifice. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Lee then proceeded to decry the Government agents who were drawing their thousands. He said that they must compel Government to'give them work. The best thing they could do would be to select a number of members to get up a petition to Government, who were bound tp find them employment.
A man named Charles Clemens next addressed the meeting. They had been told they would get work all the year round, but for his part he had got only one month’s work since January. If he could have his way he would have Sir Julius Vogel strung up by the heels. (A voice : Let him die.) He was not fit to let die. Tbe country wa.s fit only for women. There were too many public-houses. If they earned a shilling they spent It there it they gave the shilling to the women they spent it there too. Why, the women were the ruin of the men. (Applause. A voice : V hat about Qhinameu i) r The speaker : Let them live. They were all seat into the world to do their best, whether red, black, or yellow. After the speaker had concluded, about a dozen consented to act as a committee. An arrangement was made that ® meeting should take place on Monday, , The people then dispersed, The proceedings were orderly throughout,
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5658, 19 May 1879, Page 2
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361MEETING OF UNEMPLOYED IN CHRISTCHURCH. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5658, 19 May 1879, Page 2
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