THE SYDNEY UNEMPLOYED.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 147, 27 March 1886, Page 7

THE SYDNEY UNEMPLOYED.

Nj.ws culled from the Sydney newspapers confirms the special despatch which we published the other day with reference to the condition of tho labour markot there. At the same time, it is made evident that a good deal of the distress is duo to improvidence and intemperance. The Sydney "Evening News," a paper most favourable to the woiking classes, makes the following statements : — In all about 500 men have presented themselvesatthelmmigration Depot, and requested relief in the shape of temporary employment, the group being about equally divided between mariied and single men. Among the appeals have been those of men who were deserving of every sympathy and consideration ; as for instance in the case of a man who has been ill for two years. There are several instances of a, similar nature, But let us turn to the other side. A strong healthy looking fellow presents himself aud lequests a free pas? to some distant place. Oh/ yes « ho is one of the unimployed. Thorc is no hope of obtaining work in Sydney, and he has resolved to go to the far West, But why doea he want to go there? He has been there before. How long ago? Only a few week?. Then, rinding himself closely pressed, he tolls Mr "Wise that only a short iimo ago ho ariived in Sjdney. He wae then the happy possessor of a " pocketful of money." Ho had C4S. Now he had not a fraction. What had become of it ? Be became silent. He did not know. It had gone. Jle supposed he had lost it in Ihe Pule, or somewhere elee. AH he wanted was, not to be questioned, but a free pass that he might get back to his frionds, and he would promiso never to return to Sydney.

An Undeserving Case. One of the first; applicants was a "jolly young gardener." Ho had been employed by a gentleman in a westorn suburb at a salary of 25s a week and everything found On Satuaday week he had a night out, and on Su 'day morning he was found in the stieet near the residence of bis employer singing that he " hadn't got over it yet." Uis employer requested the man to return to his work, but the jolly gardener was jolly obdurate. He would see his employer in some unexplored place before he would work for him. The plants were spoiling. Would the man not go back and save the valuable stock of exotics? No. His employer might go and knock up an acquaintance with the Piince of Darkness, and then he would not go back. Need we give further instances ? Perhaps these will sllice to confirm the statement of one of the officials in the depot, that not more ihan two or three out oi every twenty applications are genuino cases of destitution. A very large proportion of the men admitted that they were in omployment up tho country and had come down to see Sydney at Chris' mas. They had had a merry Christmas. They had spent all their money and could not get back. Seventy-two men were supplied with free railway passes this morning, and sent to their selected destinations. This was a large number, but there were more than fhty defaulters— those who had had their names registered but did not present them selves. The applicants embrace all classes of mechanics, among them being engineers, carpenters, fitters, bricklayers, and one mateofavessel. The men haveupontheaverage been in the receipt of £2 ]0s per week They all all seem to have lived upon the principle of "catch a mouse and eat it," for although many of them say that they have only been out of work a few weeks they profess to be destitute. In one case a man and his wife had been in receipt of £S0 per annum, and everything found. They are now Fwithout as much as the wherewithal to provide a meal; and another conple, who have been in receipt of £7q a year, are in a similar state of destitution.

" Six Bob a-Day or Nothing." Mr Treatt informed the married men that arrangements had been made for employing them on clearing work at Rook-

wood. The termg would be piecework and a free pass to JKookwood and back to bydney daily. An impromptu meeting of the ummployed was hold ab the Queen's Statute, and it was decided that they should not acceps piecework. They would, as their leader put it, heave "Six bob aday or nothing." Some disturbances have taken place among the unemployed at Little Bayfbut theiehasbeennothingofaseriouacharacter, the disputes having arisen trom crossgrained nature, and not in oonsequence of the werk; Three hundred and twenty men were registered in the depob on Monday, but no work has yet been provided for KV« 1 Mr , Tr ? atfc8 wo^k having come to a deadlock, he is awaiting orders from the Works Department as to where the men should be placed. About two hundred men proeented themselves at tho Depot this morning for breakfast. They were supplied with bread and cheese, under the personal supervision of three constables, who ''fronds 3 " am ° ng lh ° thr ° ng BOmo of their