The Unemployed.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 162, 24 July 1886, Page 10

The Unemployed.

To-day's large and orderly demonstration of workmen who cannot find employment ought •to convince the Government and local bodies that there is a great deal of genuine distress in Auckland at present. The moderate request of the men to be supplied with the opportunity of earning an honest livelihood constitutes an appeal which no Government or community has a right to disregard. We would fain hojje that the number said to be idle— 750— is an over-estimate, but taking the actual number present at the meeting, we have 500 able-bodied men, with probably a thousand helpless ones dependent upon them, who are either living on charity, or mortgaging their future labour to the grocer, baker, or butcher. That is not a healthy state of things in any community, and those in authority should take, prompt steps to remove it. The cause of the plethora of labour is patent, but unfortunately to know the cause is not in this case to be on the way to cure the disease. A great influx of population, caused by Auckland's prosperity, has during the past two years led to over-building, and temporarily stimulated other branches of trade ; but the inevitable re-action has come, and we have a glutted labour market and scores of empty houses. To advocate a wholesale deportation of the population elsewhere would, be a.shortsighted remedy. It seems to us that it is the cleav duty of the Government ami the City Council to open up public woiks without delay. The spring is at hand, and it is time for the Corporation to be prosecuting such works as the cutting down of Hobson-street. It is not only day labourers who are feeling the pinch of hard times, but many tradesmen were to be seen among the crowd, at to-day's meeting ; the building trade is paralysed, with but little hope of recovery for some lime ; and it is imperative that other outlets be provided for our redundant labour. We trust the large and respectable crowd, who to-day made known their wants, will not have appealed in vain. — Star,