THE UNEMPLOYED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 129, 29 June 1909, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

SERIOUS POSITION IX WELLINGTON By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Monday. The Mayor (Dr. Newman) says "his experience indicates that tiie city is' crowded with unemployed. A fresh batch of about twenty-five calls on him each day. Some of tile men stale they linvc tramped through the Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki country districts but have been unable to gctiwork. The Mayor says he is very loth to call a meeting to consider the best means of relieving cases of distress, but he feels' impelled to do so. It is proposed to set up ;i committee for gathering funds from the citizens.

Wellington, Last Night, The first batch of men for the bushfelling relief work at Waitotara left Wellington to-day, consisting of nineteen persons. Another batch of twenty leave here to-morrow for the same place, and will lie followed by further detachments until 100 have ' beerr"*dcDuring the week twenty were sent to Nelson to the ruilwa.Weonstruclion work there, while twenty are being despatched to the railway" works at Stratford next week. •'

SITUATION' IX.eTJKtSTCUUUCII. t'liristc-lttirclt. Monday. There is n Strong feeling amongst unionists regarding the city engineer's retail to pay the standard 8s a day on tin- relief works. Thirteen were notified they must get u permit to work i>t less than the minimum, U nd they say they, are worth the minimum. The union apparently i„ deterniined to support them. They admit that men engaged in work where muscle is not developed are not able to earn the minimum, but contend that any man used to hard manual livbor can fall into pick and shovel work in a few days and should lie paid the minimum.

STRIKE" OF THE UNEMPLOYED.

J Christcliureh, Last Night, lite principal development to-day in I connection with the unemployed has been the almost unanimous decision of those who had been notilied to obtain permits to work at Ices than the union rate to refuse to work for less than that rate. As' a consequence, only those reviving a shilling an hour resumed work this morning. A fairly large number of those who had been asked to get permits were in attendance at the City council office during the morning, anil received payment for work they had done, and some of these talked to a . r T™ mla . tive - Tl,e «™ CT <il "(Hi ot their opinions was that they vould ra her st arve than accept loss finf- ;i. slllll 1 1 "« '"' hj " - Those who took tins' extreme view did not appear to have any dependents on them. Amongst others who were lookhw out for work and who had families d™en 1mg on them the opposite view was expressed They were willing to take wort; at almost any rate of wiw The whole matter will come up for discusMon at tie City Council tonight, when .1 deputation front the Trades and Lab- i or Council will wait on the Council to Piotes against the reduction of the rate of pay.

On enquiry this afternoon at •„„,■ , Labor II UI . CIUI it w;ls as , urtll . m , (( Ui of ten men who were to have reported heins'elves at 10 a,„. to-da,- to have their passes for the Will J sto d arranged for in connection , vith \£ ■m-liMling work proviileil J,v Die r;„. vernmont, only four hiiil reported tlieni selves up to 3 p.m. Two others vlo liad applied fo r work durhi<r the ,Mv are to K o North, and an attempt will 1, 0 made to make up the I m',° t«ent.v.|ive men will be! • o -] i tclied o-morrow morninj. for work « tl.e Jt.dlaml railway at a point bo«eea the Cass and the Henley. AnOher party will ]„. despatched on Th S d ay ami next wppk two morn I'aitiM will he SP ,,t to the same works. DEinrrATrox to the council. Cliristchureh, Last Witt. "'Wilt..)™ re unemployed waited on tno_tity Council tn-iii K ]it anil prolested against the payment of less than the ate of Ssa day. The Council decided Vii employ ,j0 men fciV the next fort--.Hirlil. when (lie question, would "0 further considered. It was also re•""lveil Dint each man after comolclm" six days' work should be discharged' to make rooin Tor another. The city sur. veyors action re the payment" of tile I men «;n approved.