THE UNEMPLOYED.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2600, 21 July 1881, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sir, —With your permission I must again trouble you with a subject that has already been before the public so often that there is a risk of their becoming tired of it, but still it should interest every man in New Zealand, Some six or eight weeks ago the unemployed of Timaru met and agitated for work. After some little trouble, an answer was obtained that the merits of the ease would be looked into. After some little delay, Mr Calicut arrived, and stated that he would recommend the opening of the Albury extension railway. Then came more delay, but after a little working up, Government surveyors were sent up to survey the proposed extension, and, Sir, bear in mind, this survey was unnecessary, as the line had already been surveyed some five or six times. This caused more delay. Then some little stir was made by a section of the Press, and the. result of that stir was a few telegrams from Government and the local representatives, stating that tenders would be called for shortly so as to giv® work to the unemployed. During all this time, really destitute men were put on to work at stone breaking, so as to

keep life and body together, and everything was being done for them that could be done. The unemployed kept quiet, the really destitute were content to live on the charitable act of stone breaking at 2s 6d per yard, everybody was satisfied that the cry of the needful would be attended to, and now, Sir, comes the result of their patient waiting and living on charity. Now comes the result of their keeping quiet and depending on the promises made to them, that all willing men would get a chance of having a contract under the Government on the Albury extension. Both the public and the unemployed wore led to understand that the line would be let in small contracts as Mr Calicut stated publicly, “to give every man a chance.” On going to look at the plans and specifications for the purpose of trying to take up a portion of the work,l find Sir, that it is to bo let all in one tender or contract. The contractor has to find a bond of £SOO in two surities, and a deposit of £2OO, a marked cheque _to that amount having to be sent iu with every tender. The successful tenderer is to receive 90 per cent on work done, and 50 per cent on material, as progress payments. Now,what a splendid chance for the unemployed that cannot find bread to feed their families, what a grand noble Government to open up works in contracts to suit the poor men, and then ask for a bond of £SOO and a deposit of £2OO. This, Sir, needs no comment, the fact speaks for itself. The present Government do not want to benefit the working man or raise him from his present position, they do not want him to better himself, they want to keep him down, to grind his spirit and break his heart. He asks for work, they offer him charity and fair promises, and when the time comes that they are forced, yes. sir, I say forced to do something they break their promises and thrust the contracts that according to promise should be given him into the hands of some rich and large contractor.

By correspondence received by me from different parts of New Zealand I may tell you, Sir, the voice of the country is against this sort of thing, and I predict that before long New Zealand will be in the throes of political excitement as all classes of men are preparing themselves to send men to Parliament who will represent the people and not pander to the vices of a few. —I am &c. 11. E. BOARDMAN.