ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 1 December 1880, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir, —Your comments on Mr. Foster's letter to the English papers' have astonished a very large number of the working men in this county, and, believing that a large portion of the press is led on by interested parties to still further harass the unfortunate working men of the Colony by enticing more people to come from the United Kingdom and elsewhere, about 50 working men in this district quietly met and resolved that they take steps to gather authentic information as to numbers of men employed by Government on what are called the unemployed railway works, the wages paid by Government, and also the price of provisions and fuel on eaoh of the works. We have also got Government statistics of the population of each district, and statistics of the area of land under cultivation in each district. We have also got a correct list of all the single men employed by the farmers in this country, also married men employed, and the wages paid apd food provided. The number of men employed, &c., we have ascertained from actually counting them, and the wages we have foupd out by enquiry from the employed. ! We have also got from offiioial sources a list of all the insolvencies, deeds of arrangement, and bills of sale connected with this district since 18,71. We have also ascertained the amount of wages paid by the only works or manufactories in the district, ' namely, fellmongery and serving. We have got the price of bread, meat, milk, butter, potatoes, and toba,cco in every township in this County, and also Waimate County.

Now, Sir, our intention is to send all those reports to almost all newspapers in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and ask the editors to publish them in such a way that people can at a glance see the proportion of unemployed to the whole population, and also see how far the wages paid will go towards paying food, rent, and fuel, saying nothing about boots and clothing. The above-mentioned reports, including all newspaper reports of the meetings of unemployed all 6ver the Qqlqny, we intend to forward copies of to Canadian, Australian, and American emigration agents residing in the United Kingdom. The reason for writing to you is that if you, or any of your paper, haye apything t© gay- about the

fairness or honesty of our proceeding let it be said now. . 6 '

In conclusion, I beg to say that we have ascertained who the seven that voted with Mr. Fleming at the Benevolent Society's meeting are, and we devote a special page to enumerating their pro. fessidns, possessions, and benevolonco at present; also their antecedents, commencing with Mr. Fleming. I am, &c., G. Hawksworth, For self and 14 other unemployed. Oamarn, 29th November, 1880.