CHARITABLE AID.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2324, 27 February 1892, Page 4

CHARITABLE AID.

Wellington, Feb. 25.

A deputation from the Benevolent Trustees waited on the Hon. Mr Cadinan this afternoon to renew the application already made to the Premier for a grant of two acres of land on which to build a destitute home. The Rev. Van Stavern, who acted as spokesman, said that the trustees were maintaining 76 old people and that the present accommodation was thoroughly inadequate ; in fact, they ■were doing these people a grave wrong in allowing them to reside in hovels, for their dwellings were worthy of no other name. These places were almost coequal with the back slums of London, and he was surprised that they were allowed to exist in Wellington. Mr Yan Stavern referred to the desire Mr Cadman had expressed to see cottage homes established, saying that the trustees admired that system ; but he pointed out that in many cases it would be inadequate. A grant of £SOO would go a long way in establishing destitute homes. Mr Cadman, in reply, said that his own idea was to devise some scheme to relieve the local bodies of a certain amount of their harden, but the question was one for the Cabinet to consider. He could not, therefore give a definite answer to the deputation’s request at present. The Ministry would draft a scheme and circulate it amongst the local bodies for their consideration. The Government, he might add, did not intend to increase the burdens of the local bodies by throwing an additional responsibility on them. LABOUR. New York, Feb. 23. The ironmasters in Cleveland have announced to their men that they will make a reduction in ivages in March unless trade improves. London, Feb. 23. The stoppage of the Durham collieries may possibly affect 400,000 men. Feb. 25. The owners of the majority of the collieries in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire Leicestershire, Cumberland, Lancaster, and North Wales, have arranged for the cessation of operations, and the owners of pits in Staffordshire, Durhamshire, and Northumberland, are expected to join in the arrangement. The men have given a fortnight’s notice. Evidence was given besfore the Labour Commission, showing that Poles were ousting English bootmakers and were working for Gs and 8s per week of one hundred hours. The men had protested against this injustice, bn c had received no satisfaction. A bill, limiting the hours of shopwomen to seventy four per week, has been read a second time. Wellinuton, Feb. 25. A deputation from the boiler-makers waited on the Premier and Minister of Public Works on Wednesday urging that the work at present manufactured out of the colony could be executed in New Zealand. They pointed out that locomotives could be manufactured in the colony, also marine boilers, fluming, tunnelling, tanks for defence purposes, etc. They therefore asked the Government to admit the raw material duty free and impose a heavy duty on the imported article. The Premier said that he was assured by the ; Railway Commissioners that it was their intention to manufacture in future the engines and boilers necessary for their use. The question was one absolutely of Freetrade v Protection, as they were no doubt aware. If the deputation would compile a full list of the alterations they urged the Government would give the fullest consideration to it. Christchurch, Feb. 25. This afternoon a deputation from the unemployed boilermakers, introduced by Messrs Joyce and Sandford, waited on Mr Reeves and brought under his notice the fact that while the Railway Commissioners were importing boilers and other manufactured iron-work into the colony, a large number of mechanics were idle. The deputation also stated that unskilled labour was being employed at the railway workshops in carrying out work which elsewhere was executed by mechanics, outside employers being thus placed at a serious disadvantage; also that under existing arrangements apprentices were not getting a fair chance of learning their trade, nor was there any prospect of work for them in the colony after completing their apprenticeship if the present system of importation was persisted in. The Minister promised to bring the matters com pained of under the notice of the Commissioners and the Minister of Public Works.

Wellington. Feb. 25. A public meeting, under the auspices of the Wellington branch of the Knights of Labour, was held to-night . Sir Robert Stout delivered an address on the “ State and individuals.” Mr Vv r , McLean, M.H.R., gave an account_ of the aims and objects of the organisation, and stated that the membership throughout the colony exceeded 4000.