The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1037, 16 August 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1879.

It is saddening to see so many unemployed hanging about our thoroughfares waiting for something to turn up. They smoke and gaze, alternately at the buildings and into space, and, we presume, that they eat, drink, and sleep, but how they manage to do some of these things puzzles most people. If their small supplies of the " needful" have not quite run out they must have run distressingly low. They are parting with their little cash, and not replenishing their supply ; they are becoming rusty, lethargic, and plethoric from inaction. The life of gentlemen does not agree with them, and they are falling into bad habit 3 and ill-health. Why is this so 1 Surely something can be done to palliate the evil, even if it cannot be entirely removed. The Municipal Council has work to bo done, and the unemployed have the capacity for working. It is purely a question of money, of which, unfortunately, the Municipal Council has none. The Council would, if they were in funds, proceed with the waterworks they would have the pipes, just landed ex the Dunkeld, laid throughout the town. Could not some arrangement be made between the Council and the unemplpyed, whereby thi3 work could be done on "tick." Everything is done on tick now, and if working men were to give credit they would only be in the fashion. Really, this is a matter worthy of the serious consideration of the unemployed. At present they are hanging about the boarding houses, nuisances to themselves and everybody else. They are fast forgetting how to work, and when the Council's loan and the other millions that will arrive in the Colony within the next few months are available, they will not conscientiously be able to take a share of it. They are becoming demoralised, and are exercising a demoralising influence over the community. Now they not only do not save their spendings, but they are spending their savings. They have evidently made up their minds to hang on until funds are forthcoming. If they are resolved to remain here, it would be better for themselves and everybody else if the}- were employed. They miirlit not get any payment now, but when the amount of the Council's loan comes to hand they would have the pleasure of receiving payment for work they might perform now, instead of having to work up arrears which had grown considerable during a prolonged period of idleness, and, in many instances, dissipation. If onr suggestion were adopted the to wn and the u nemplo3 r ed wo uld be materially benefited, the completion of the Waterworks would not be delayed, and the unemployed, who are now waiting until the Council shall be in a position to pay them cash, would have nearly completed the work which the Council has for them to do, and would at once receive their wages, and be prepared to engage in the colonial works that will be undertaken immediately on the arrival of the Colonial loan. Working men would, therefore, lose no time, they wodld only have to wait for their pay for two oxthree months, while in this respect they would bo no worse off than many others, who have not only to give unlimited credit, but have to suffer the additional inconvenience of accepting

miserable dividends in insolvent estates ; they would be conserving any ings they may have scraped together, instead of squandering it because they have nothing better to do. The idea may be somewhat novel, but it is thoroughly practical and practicable.