THE UNEMPLOYED AGITATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2267, 23 June 1880, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED AGITATION.

THREATENED EXODUS TO AMERICA.

[by telegraph.]

[from our own CORR ESPONDENT.]

Christchurch, June 23

At a meeting of the unemployed this morning, a telegram was read from the delegates at Wellington saying they had met the Government with favorable results. .They bad made accusations against the officials at the Weka Pass works, but Mr Blah-, the Government engineer, had stated to the Government that the men received rations at the rate of Is 3d per da}', and all the work was let by contract. 'The Chairman of the unemployed Committee spoke, alleging that from bis own observations Blair’s statement was incorrect.

A man who had just returned from the Weka Pass stated that though the work was apparently let by contract the men were told that married men could not receive more than 28s per week and single men 21s. From this all wet days were deducted, and the daily rations were far higher than Is 3d per day.

Tim Chairman said that if after this denial was sent to Wellington, the (iovernment did nothing, he would advise that money be raised by subscription and lectures throughout the colony and a ship chartered with the pro-

ceeds to convey fifty nmn each from Canterbury, Otago, Invercargill, Wellington and oilier places to America. This, at any rate, would slop the raising of further loans, and lulling in conjunction with the Civil [Service Commission’s report, an exposure would be made of the system by which useless oilicials were receiving TGOl) and £7OO a year, while huge numbers of men, who were induced to come out on the pretext of receiving 10s a day, were actually starving. The meeting then adjourned till Friday.