UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 29

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

PETITION TO THE KING REJECTED. LONDON, Febiuary 10. Mr H. Gladstone, Home Secretary, informed the deputation from the Manchester unemployed that their Windsor petition had been rejected. February 11. The Rev. Edward Lyttelton, head master of Eton, permitted the Manchester unemployed to address the Eton boys in tb» college quadrangle. Mr Gray, the leader of the party, declared that blood was already being s-hed both in the East and the West by hungry men who were demanding bread. War in England was not far off. The stonyhearted plutocracy would provoke a revolution unless it were careful. Mr M'Cutcheon, the second leader, after referring to Wat Tyler ard Oliver Cromwell, declared : "We are making ready for a second Commonwealth. Are you ready for that? " The bo"ys shouted " No." The Rev. Mr Lyttelton sad the boys had heard some home truths, and they had better go and think about them. Despite the King's desire for privacy, two Socialists tried to march a hundred of the unemployed to the Duke of Fife's residence at Brighton. The police dispersed them. February 12. In the House of Commons Mr John Burns stated, in reply to a question, that it was not intended to legislate regarding the unemployed question in 1908. NEW YORK, February 11. A national congress ot the unemployed ie now being held at St. Louis. The delegates demand to be State supported dining periods of macthity, like e-oklieit, iind given free tiansportation when seeking employment. They also a-^c for pq appropriation by Cnnzx^ss of

150.000,000d0l for the organisation of work for the idle. If nothing is done they will indulge in a monster march to Washington.