THE UNEMPLOYED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 134, 5 July 1909, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

A eo.-ics|,on<lciit ill ;i recent issue failed attention to the distress cxistbig in the town mid (lie need for the doimr of something for the Joc-.il unemployed. One would gather from tlic t ran| . o f' t | lo communication III.IL tiling were in a Joplorably Imd way ill the Lown and disli'irt and that the imeinployed ivere with us in large liuni'liers and the distress was in ail acute form. On making investigation, we lind that distress, and real distress, is and lias been in evidence, kit not among local people, tlioiMi soine of them are, owing to the retrenchment that its going 011 on all sides, fevliug the .pinch of the times. The distress is among strangers to lift, place—th.os'e unforLuuates who have Veil triuuping the country in a v;:in hope, of obtaining work. The majority of the <;i»i'S we investigated provided genuimi instances of hardship, and Hie men were iit'ihg kept from actual want by the. kindness of a few good Samaritans. Till'}' «'erc all willing and able to work. Tilt condition of some of tlie other .111011 seeded to liave been brought about by thesv o)vji improvidence and intraper-

ance, deserved littfc help. The Labor is making every effort to k?op'e with the unemployment, , and last/week the local officer publicly requested all married and single men who are willing to accept work at bushfelling or piek-and-s'hovel to comi municate with him without delay. It I is hoped work will be found ia this way for a goad number, but it is manifest that the tiovernment cannot do everything. We would like to t-vo the Borough Council put in hand, tvhatevcr work they can r'glit away, for it is now that the relief is wanted. .' If nothing vise, they could provide work at stonebreaking. The latter is not highly remunerative employment; except in the hands of experts, but,a couple of yards of stone broken diyily would help to keep the wolf from the door of some of our unfortunate visitor*. Private per- , sons, too. might, and uo doubt would, assist—when thoy jt'cognised the assist- ' ance meant the relief of actual distress—by having their garden or other work done | at the present juncture. The local olii- , cer of the Labor Department and the • SaivatiOii Army might be communicated | with in this connection. Jn a few weeks | things should improve considerably all » round and provide the employment that ; i&' so badly needed in many quarters j just now.