RELIEF WORKS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 740, 11 April 1881, Page 2

RELIEF WORKS.

1 (To the Editor- Waibabapa Dailt.) j Sir,—ln view of a scarcity of works j during the coming ''■ winter, I wish with your permission to make a few remarks.oh i this subject, and offer some suggestions I as to how the matter should be'dealt with in the Wairarapa towiiships,-. The usual . system adopted by bur various' local bodies | iu inviting competition for any ,w ( ork they , require done, although an admirable plan Bofar as economy is concerned,'it does . not ease the labor market very much, as , it it only those who are the'jsuccesßful [ tenderers that manage to obtain employ- , ment, all the others are put of it. And , we all know the numbers who compete'for tho smallest job that is 'tendered for. In all places' where there is a considera- . ble population, there are always a certain number of men who are incapacitated for ; laborious work, and who would not come up to the standard of driving contractors, ,' so that however plentiful work might be they would have a'difficulty'in obtaining it,-because of their inability.to perform as much work a3 younger and stronger, men; 'Yet these people' must live c as' well as others, Now to meet the case'of this class, I think .employment, might be provided at stone-breaking, by--.Borough Councils, Highway : 'Boards.,or OouDoilß,pr working iib the waste ma^ rial lying about gravel ,'pits^^i|^B boulders thrownooy^fl^^^^H expenditure ■wfl^^^^^^^^^l the Masterj^^^^^^^^^^^H aside a bu^^^^^^^^^^^H Greytow^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H -that j^^^^^^^^^^H rable at^^^^^^^^Hj^^^H to bo gireu^^^^^^^^^^^fl the district ;^^^^^^^^^^^^H so mi^^^^^^^^^^^f arranged acol^^^^^H^^^J be opn^^^^^^^^H similar plan 4^^^H^^^H winter, to^^^H^^^f have referred to earningl^^^^^^^| carry them through the du^^^^^l In a country like this properly organised system nothing to fall back upon in lute want—it is imperative that work as I have suggested started soon. lam sorry to Bay thaiW'\ prospects and condition of the indigent'" poor here are more, unsatisfactory and preoariouß here than those of similar olaßses in the old country. There the law of the land says that no one need want who seek relief. Here, were it not for the forbearance of the storekeeper, the butcher and the baker, many would absolutely starve. We must hot shut ouj eyes to this state of things, but honestly admit it, and try to organise some scheme to ameliorate it as much as possible, , . I am, &c,,.