THE UNEMPLOYED

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2564, 9 June 1881, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED

An adjourned meeting of the un employed took place at Mr Moss Jonas’ covered yard to day, and shortly after wards those present proceeded en masse to interview His Worship the Mayor at the Borough Council Chambers. His Worship said that ho could not promise to proceed with the laying of the water pipes as requested in the resolution of yesterday, because before the pipes could bo laid they must have the necessary fittings, 350 tons of which would bo required before a pipe could be touched. The fittings, His Worship added were coming out by the ship Napier, which was now due here ; but, in the meantime, any person desirous of obtaining employment could go to work at stone-breaking if so minded. His Worship begged his hearers to remain patient, as ho could assure them that he was doing everything in his power to meet their views and to find an outlet for the surplus labor in the market.

Subsequently tbc men returned to Mr Jonas’ yard, where a list was prepared of those out of employment, the said list specifying whether the subscriber was single or married, the number of his children, if any, and how long he had been out of work. A number of signatures were soon obtained, Mr Turnbull, M.11.1t. having promised to carry the document with him to Wellington to-day, and urge upon the Government the immediate necessity of steps being taken to relieve the distress existing in the district.

The meeting then adjourned until to morrow at 10 a.m.