THE UNEMPLOYED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2202, 16 May 1891, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED.

Wellengtoit, May 15. A deputation of unemployed waited on Ministers at noon. Mr H. P. Fisher said they represented 100 men, and since the meeting on Tuesday they had received 65 more,names. There were 312 children dependent on them, He knew of many more and there were quite 30t> altogether out of work. The Premier said the Government recognised that a certain duty devolved on them to keep people in work, but they could not find men employment at their trades. All they had was road making and he thought they could provide for about 100. He would send them to the districts and find tools. P peaking generally he thought the cure for the attraction of labor to towns was to be found in village settlements. Only a few days ago blocks were set apart in Wairarapa for this purpose, and he hoped to see the same men now looking for work settled there. It was the duty of the Government to keep statistics of unemployed regularly, and it was their intention to ask Parliament to allow a Minister of Industry to be appointed who should watch over the interests of labor, otherwise the exodus from the country would still go on. Government accepted their responsibility and intended to do all they could to keep the people employed. The Hon. Mr Reeves added the Government thought well of the suggestion that officials in the country districts should be employed to keep a register of available work, and send intimation to other parts ot the colony Mr D. P. Fisher asked the Premier whether the Honowhenua block could be made available for village settlement, and Mr Ballance promised to look into it. . Mr Buckley, in consequence or a remark about the Government printers working overtime, said ,he would see that if there was an opening for unemployed compositors they should have it,