South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881,

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2566, 11 June 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881,

Everyone will be pleased to : hoar that there is now prospect of the large body of unemployed at present in this district obtaining, work. That the distress is greater than appears on the surface no reasonable man can doubt. It is the custom of too many to sneer at the “ unemployed,” and the remark is frequent, that it is their own fault, that no one who really wants work need be without it for any lengthened period, and that it is only loafers who are raising the cry. Such assertions are not only heartless, but they betray a lamentable amount of ignorance regarding the present condition of the working classes. It is certainly to nobody’s interest to exaggerate the depressed state of the labor market. But it is cowardice—rank cowardice and want of feeling—to heap vituperation on men who are virtually powerless, and who have the least influence" of any class in the community. There may be a few loafers and ne’er-do-wells amongst them, but those few do not leaven the lump. The truth must be grappled with. It is for the interest of all sections of the community that such should be done. It is a sad fact that.amongst a liberal-minded people a man should receive contumely insteadof work. There are men with large families now in dire need who are ashamed to enrol their names in the ranks of the unemployed because disgrace attached. It is an old saying that there in a great deal of harm wrought by want of thought. Let those who enjoy the comforts of life think more charitably of their less fortunate fellowbeings. Let them be silent, for the display of callousness can dp no earthly good. Many of the men who receive gibe and jeer have wives and children dependent upon them. They are in enough trouble without being subject to the coarse and groundless taunts of the unfeeling. What signifies it if there is a black sheep hero and there amongst them ? Do they blacken the whole lot ? Shame on any body of citizens who have nought but unkind words when they should exhibit sympathy, if they cannot afford more substantial help. Oh, for the rarity of Christian charity.

As we said before, the unemployed are weak, decidedly weak. Like the Israelites of old they cry in the wilderness. The public press seldom takes up their cause, for the simple reason that it does not immediately pay. But it is the duty of a journalist to take a more extended view of matters. The truth is the best in the long run. Fortunately for the credit of Timaru its Chief Magistrate has taken a humane and comprehensive view of the situation. By kindly advice and encouragement he kept up the spirits of the men in a time of sore trial, and left nothing undone to procure them work. Captain Sutter,may your shadow never grow less. Yon. were fifty time happier in your good work than the sneering fellows in theirs—creatures who, if devoid of work or means, would give vent to one continuous whine. It is gratifying to feel that the credit of Timaru has been saved. Other gentlemen ably seconded the Mayor in his noble work, but as they do not occupy official positions, we will refrain from mentioning their names. They may be of those who do good by stealth and blush to find it fame. The Mayor is a prominent public man, and he must take the praise with that blame which has come to be an attribute of his position, especially in a “ grumbling town like Timaru,” as a well-known citizen characterised it the other day.

There are two hundred men out of work in Timaru. We sincerely wish it were otherwise, for it is certainly not the interest of the Press to paint affairs in gloomy colors. Public works have been almost entirely stopped, and private enterprise has not yet thoroughly recovered from the recent depression. Still even in the best years it is only to be expected that a considerable number of men in tliis district would fail to find employment at this season of the year. The leading industry is grain growing, and the demand for labor is abnormally great during the harvest. When the crops are gathered, what other industries are there to absorb the hands the farmer has dispensed with ? We are afraid lack of employment will recur each, succeeding year. It would be sheer folly to blink the fact. Such had been the case in Australia after shearing, where “ sundowner ” is a familiar term. For the benefit of those who do not know the meaning of the term we may state that “ sundowners ” are men who tramp the country and live on the squatters in the interval between the shearing seasons. In order not to be sent further afield they generally manage to reach a station when the sun is very low in the horizon. The establishment of native industries has done much to abolish the evil, for evil it was both to sheepfarmer and swagger. It will only be by opening up fresh channels of industry in this district that the farmer will be enabled to reap his crops without paying an exorbitant price for labor, whilst at the same time a settled population will be secured. This climate is not suitable for “sundowners.” They would soon take themselves to warmer regions. It is not ordinary depression that is to dreaded. It is the two extremes of a great demand for labor at one season of the year and a dearth of employment at another. Anyone who is capable of taking a broad view will see how desirable it is to look at matters calrnlv in the face.