THE UNEMPLOYED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 187, 29 July 1908, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

ALLEGED EXAGGERATED DISTRESS •By Telegraph.—Press Association. C'liristchurch, Last Night. Out of the 41 men to whom passe* to Broken Itiver were issued lor use on to-day's train, seven failed to use tliein. This morning only about half- , a-dozen more applications for work were received at the Labor Bureau.

Brigadier Albistcr, of the Salvation Army, informed a representative of Truth to-day that the Army had been endeavoring to locate the alleged distress referred to by speakers at recent meetings in the Square, but so far without success. The Army officers were practically ready to do all in their power to alleviate any deserving cases if they could only get in touch witit them. The statements have been made that tnere were families in want of food, and Brigadier Albistcr states that on Thursday arrangements will b« made to dispense hot soup and provisions at the Army headquarters in Victoria street.

DEPUTATION TO TIIE PREMIER. promises~of WORK. Wellington, Last Nlgnt. Two or three hundred alleged unemployed met at the Queen's statue and passed resolutions condemning the action of the Government in advertising in England reports calculated to give wrong impressions to intending immigrants and calling for the cessation of immigration j also that the Government should take immediate steps to alleviate distress through lack of employment. After a procession through the streets, a deputation waited on t/he Prime Minister.

Mr McLaren, secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union, said there were about IGOO names on the Union's books, but the number of men wl>o t made anyt'hing like a living did not exceed aiif hundred. Men who were unable to get work at their ordinary callings flocked to the wharf, and made the state of. affairs there more and more desperate day after day and week after week. He canie across cases of pitiful destitution. There were about three hundred names on the list which had been handed to Sir Joseph Ward, but he believed the number of men who were earning little or nothing was double that figure. Sir Joseph Ward said the representations of the speakers would be fully considered by himself and liis colleagues. He and the Government were in full sympathy with the pcople_ in their distress. Regarding immigration, he was not in favor of anything thfl-f would be likely to disorganise the labo market. If tho new arrivals were not being legitimately absorbed, the Uovernmcnt would take steps to stop the' immigration as far as possible. If there were any aggravation of the unemployed problem, it was'due to arrivals from Australia, and not from Britain. The Government would not help this class of unemployed at the expense of New Zealand. Since lIKJ-l the immigrants from Great Britain included 1883 farmers and farm workers, and 1000 navvies and domestic servants. The total number of people who might possibly be considered to influence tho labor market was 1907. This number included some artisans, but the men were mostly farm laborers. The total capital brought in by immigrants was £389,660. He submitted that the high rents were responsible for much of tne 'suffering here. He waß sure tliat the tremendous increase in cost of building was out of proportion to the rates of wages. The Government had tried to get land for workers' homes, but had been unable to secure it at reasonable rates. The Waterside Workers' Union should not have six hundred men beyond the capacity of the wharfs to funisli labor. The six hundred snomd seek openings elsewhere. A lunn, who said he was "one of tho six hundred," said he was willing to work at anything, but could get IWH thing. The Premer replied that lio would take the man's name. The Minister for railways (had said that he wanted men for railways and men were wanted for roads. Tlie Wellington Labor Bureau had seventy namcß of unemployed on its books, but all the men wanted ro»d work. In Christchurch, Dunedln, Timaru, and Auckland the position was not nearlv so bad as it liad been represent ed to be recently. The Government could not get at Timaru more than 17 men to go to work that mi open to them. The Government would do all In its power to assist the men to get employment.