THE UNEMPLOYED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9529, 29 June 1909, Page 5

THE UNEMPLOYED.

RELIEF WORKS

By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, June 28.

The principal development to-day in connection with the unemployed has been almost the unanimous decision of those who had been notified to obtain permits to work at less than union rate to refuse to work for less than the rate. As a consequence only those receiving 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 Gity Council office during the morning, and received payment for the work they had done. Some of these men talked to the "Press" representative, the general trend of their opinions being that they would rather starve than accept a shilling an hour. Those wlfu took this extreme view did not appear to have any dependents on them. Amongst others who were looking out for work, and who had families depending on them the opposite view was expressed. They were willing to take work at almost any rate of wages. The whole matter will come up for discussion at the City Council to-night, when a deputation from the Trades and Labour Council will wait on the Council to protest against the reduction of the rate of pay.

On inquiry this afternoon at the Labour Bureau it was ascertained that of ten men who were to have reported themselves at 10 a.m. to-day, to have their passages for the North Island arranged for, in connection with bushfelling work provided by the Government, only four had reported themselves up to 3 p.m. Two others who had appiied for work during the day are to go North, and an attempt will be made to make up the original number. Experienced hushmen are receiving the preference for bush-felhng work, which is being done by contract at from 25s to 30s per acre.

A party of cwenty-five men will be despatched to-morrow morning for work on the Midland Railway. Another party will be despatched on Thursday, and next week two more parties will be sent to the same works.

DEPUTATION WAIT ON CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association: CHRISTCHURCH, June 28. Deputations •re the unemployed waited on the Gity Council, to-night, and protested against the payment of less than a rate of 8s a day. The Council decided to employ 50 men for the next fortnight, when the question would be further considered. It was also resolved "that each man after completing six days' work should be discharged to make room for another."

WELLINGTON, June 28

The first batch of men for the bushfelling relief work at Waitotara left Wellington, to-day, consisting of nineteen persons. Another batch of twenty will leave here to-morrow for the same place, and will be followed by further detachments until 100 have been despatched during the week.

Twenty men were sent to Nelson to-day, to the railway construction work there, while twenty are being despatched to railway works at Stratford on Friday next.