QUEENSLAND. THE UNEMPLOYED NAVVIES AT IPSWICH

Southland Times, Issue 576, 10 October 1866, Page 3

QUEENSLAND. THE UNEMPLOYED NAVVIES AT IPSWICH

(PEOM THE QUEENSLAND TIMES, ATTG. 25). By the five minutes to three goods train from Helidon yesterday afternoon, about 200 of the unemployed labourers on the line between Ipswich and Toowoomba, came down en route for Brisbane, to lay their complaints before the Governor. It does not appear that the men ob-ained passes ; they simply helped themselves to place, on the trucks, and, when they arrived here, no demand was made on them for tickets. The Minister for Lands, Mr. Bell, was at the station when the train came in, and he at once got the men together and addressed tnem. He told them that they might submit their wants to him with quite as much expec- j tation of their being supplied as if they -went to Brisbane and saw the Governor and his other responsible advisers. He told the men that the Government had determined on doing all in their power ; that they hoped in a few weeks to carry on the railway works much more vigorously than of late ; and that, in the meantime, relief camps would be established on the Brisbane system for all those who were unable to obtain work. He said further, that free immigration had been entirely stopped, the Government being of opinion that there was now a sufficient population in the colony to carry out all public works likely to be executed for many years to come. He thought, under the circumstances, that the men would do well to return at once to their homes; if they consented to do that, a train would be at their disposal that evening. In the meantime, however, he said he would be happy to meet the working men's committee and go into the matter more in detail. Mr. Bell's remarks, being delivered in a frank kindly manner, were well received, and shortly afterwards he met the committee in one of the railway offices. The spokesman of the party, Mr. Sfrichan, of Fountain's Camp, evidently a Tiry intelligent, superior man, and one whose selection reflects great credit on the whole body of the workmen, after hearing soLie further remarks from Mr. Bell, ao-reed to hand to that gentleman the petition intended for the Governor, and look to him, as the representative of the Government, for a decision. He said, however, that he did not think the men could return that evening ; and Mr. Bell thereupon announced that rations, and a place for their accomodatiou, would be provided. Mr. Bell further endeavoured to impress on the committee that, in a time of general depression, the workmen must not expect to be alone exempt from its effects ; all had to suffer more or less, from the highest to the lowest* — none could altogather escape. He thought, therefore, that the relief camps he had referred to ought to be allowed to meet the difficulty temporarily, and that the men, being thus sure of a, sufficiency at least, would do well to refrain from further agitation ; for they might be assured that the execution of the railway contracts would not be delayed one day longer than the necessities of the Government rendered necessary. Mr Strachan said the relief camps referred to were very unpopular with the men, who considered it a kind of pauper relief, the acceptance of which degraded them in the eyes of their fellows. A man who had worked for sixpeace a-day and his rations could hardly hold his head up afterwards among his mates who had earned fair wage.. Mr Bell said he could quite understand that feeling, and he sympathised with it ; he would be very sorry to cause the working man to do anything by which he would forfeit his self-respect. But it did not saem to be remembered that he had spoken of relief camps similar to those lately established in Brisbane; the system there was — not sixpence a day and rations, but one pound per week and rations. He did not think such an arrangement as that— although it was considerably below the current rate of wages — involved any degradation. A man might live upon such an allowance comfortably, without denying himself any ordinary indulgence; and then, when better times came, which might be in a few weeks, he would be in good spirits and health and s rength to enter on more arduous and more j-emunerative labor. Mr Strachan then said that that was the first that any of them had heard of the Brisbane system of relief-camps. He did not doubt but the offer would be generally accepted by chose for whom he was speaking. He,