The Temuka Leder THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1891. THE UNEMPLOYED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2177, 19 March 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leder THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1891. THE UNEMPLOYED.

Ik Dunedin a deputation of the unemployed waited on the Hon. John McKenzie recently, and, commenting on this fact, the Otago Daily Times says that “ there is an unusual want of work for this season of the year, and the opportunity for employment is likely to become more scarce as winter comes on,” Mr Hutchison, said “ it was the duty of the Government, whether they should raise money by additional taxation or not, to find work for those who were out of employment.” The Times says;—

This is, in a sentence, the announce" ment of a purely Socialistic creed. . .

The sentiment may appeal to the thoughtless, who are contest with anything that seems popular for a moment. It will never win acceptance with those who take the trouble to consider the far-reaching consequences which would ensue were such a view of the functions of a Government to be carried oat in practice.

Apparently every expression of sympathy with suffering humanity is henceforward to he characterised as Socialistic. What is there Socialistic in Mr Hutchison’s words ? Is it not plain that unless the unemployed get work they must either become dependent on charitable aid or starve or steal. They cannot live on air, salubrious as Dunedin sou’-westers may he. If they become recipients of charitable aid, they will receive public money without giving anything in return for it. Is it not better that they should work for what they receive ? That being so, is it not the duty of the Government to deal with them in the most advantageous way F Will the Times argue that the men and their dependents onght to be allowed to starve ? Will it argue that it is not the duty of the Government to prevent death by starvation ? Again, if they steal they will in all likehood be caught and sent to gaol. There public money must be spent on their maintenance, and we believe they will be ten times better cared for there than either as workmen on relief works or as recipients of charitable aid. Then if it is not the duty of the Government to find employment for them, what is to become of them ? What is the use of talking as the Times does when to provide work for unemployed, and prevent death by starvation, were the recognised “ functions of Government” long before the word Socialism was invented ? Has it not been recognised as a function of Government in this colony for the past ten years ?

Then the Times finds fault with Mr Earnshaw, for suggesting that they should be settled as a community on a block of 10,000 acres of Crown lands in the Gatlin district, and warns theMinisterof Lands against buying land on which to settle them. Accordingly, if the Times is obeyed, they must not get relief work, they must not be settled on Crown lands, and land must not be bought for them. Reasoning from these facts, the Times would allow them to starve. The Times admits that there is a large number unemployed, and that it is likely there will be a great many more during the winter; but ic evidently does not want the Government to do anything for them, It is fortunate for the unemployed that there is at present a Ministry at the head of affairs who will pay very little attention to the toothless senility of the Times, and who will look after their interests with advantage to the unemployed as well as to the colony as a whole. The editor of the Times ought to be ashamed of himself for publishing such a foolish article.