MEETING OF UNEMPLOYED.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 428, 24 May 1879, Page 2

MEETING OF UNEMPLOYED.

From a Press Agency telegram, dated Christchurch, May 17, we take the following : In accordance with an advertisement calling upon the unemployed to meet in front of the new Post-office this morning, about 50 persons assembled. Mr John Lee, better known in Christchurch as “ Jack Lee,” ascended the pedestal and opened the proceedings. In 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 the Government to give them work, and the best thing they could do would be to select a number of members to get up a petition to tbe Government, who were-bound to find them employment. A' man named Charles Clemens next addressed the meeting. He said they had been lold they would get work all the year round, but for bis part he had got only one month’s work since January. If he could have his way, he would have Julius McVogel (sic) 'strung up by the heels. (A voice) “ Let him die.” He was not fit to let die, the country was fit only’ for women. There were too many public-houses, if they earned a shillingthey spent it there, if they gave the shilling to the women they it there too. Why the women were the ruin of thk men (applause). A -voice—What about Chinamen-

The speaker said*' let them live. Th.ty were sent into this world to do their bast, white, red, black, and yellow. After the speaker had concluded, about a dozen consented to act as a committee* and an arrangement was made that a meeting should take place again on Monday. The people then dispersed. The proceedings were orderly throughout