THE UNEMPLOYED.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 173, 3 July 1884, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

At the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening Or. Joyce asked how many men were employed as day laborers in filling in the Roebuck Road drain. Complaints had been made to him that only two men were employed on this job, which was estimated to cost some £2O, and that one of these two men was not a [ratepayer. lie certainly thought

that, as there were so many men out of employment just now, more might be employed on the work, and that preference should be given to men who are ratepayers, as such.undcubtcdly possessed a certain amount of right over the men who were not ratepayers. Cr. Tutchen said that several men with families had been to him about this, and asking him to do something in the matter, and although he had spoken to the Engineer, and also to the overseer no notice had been taken. He knew that one of the men employed was not a ratepayer. Sandlant had asked him over and over again to give him a chance. He knew that this man could work well as he had seen him laying down the gas pipes. He certainly thought ratepayers should have the preference of any work. The Engineer explained that the present job would only last about another week. Two men were enough for the Work.

Cr. Joyce did not think two men enough. There wore a number of men who were hard up, and who would be glad of even 10s More men might have been put on, so as to give all a chance. If there was even only a little employment it should be divided amongst those who were ratepayers. He could name several men who were standing about idle, and Who had tried to get on this job, but were refused. The Chairman remarked that this question had previously often given trouble. If this was to be the case again it would be advisable not to employ any day labor at all, but to call for contracts. In the present case they could do nothing, and the Engineer had stated that two mon were enough.

Cr. Joyce did not care what the Engineer said, as he (the speaker) knew what work was far better than him (the Engineer). This job was a £2O one, and would have given employment at £2 per head to ten men, and thus have afforded relief to that number of unemployed. Now there had ouly been two men put on, and one was not a ratepayer. Ho would move that “ For the future any necessary work which had to be done by day labor be given to ratepayers in preference to others, providing that they (the ratepayers) were capable of doing such work.” Cr. Smith most cordially agreed with the good motive which had prompted Cr. Joyce to bring forward this motion, but at the same time he thought the best way would be to put the matter in the form of a recommendation to the Engineer.

Cr. Joyce was perfectly willing to do this. Cr. Brown thought that such interference with the Board’s officers a very bad precedent. The matter should be left entirely to those who were responsible for the work. No foreman in any workshop would tolerate such interference on the part of his employers, and he had always seen that it was the worst possible thing to interfere with those who had the responsibility of the work. He hoped that the subject would be allowed to drop. Cr. Joyce admitted that Cr. Brown’s argument held good when applied to private firms. In this case it was entirely different as the men, being ratepayers, had a certain amount of claim.

The motion then fell through for want of a seconder, and subsequently Cr. Joyce gave notice of motion “ That no sum under £lO be expended in day labor.”