MR STOUT AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2211, 11 March 1886, Page 2

MR STOUT AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

(United Press Association.) CnEisTCHUKCH, March 10. Yesterday afternoon, in replying to a deputation from the meeting of the unemployed held the previous night,'the Hon. the Premier pve his views with regard to wages to be offered to the unemployed and the Government's responsibility in this matter, and his opinions as to the State Bank of Issue. Mr Stout said the first resolution as passed at last night's meeting was, "That in the opinion of this meeting no man can maptain himself and family on less than 5s per day, and further 'that this meeting desires the Government to pay as much to. the men on public works in Canterbury as in other parts of the colony," Now this suggested what was untrue. It was incorrect in saying that there was any difference made by the Government in tile rate of wages given throughout the cojony to men engaged on temporary employment,'. All over the colony the rafe $ pay was the paitje.' Of c'oursp, ' Tphen men' were engaged on special wqi'k',' or under special circumstances, there was difference, but in no other case was there.' Then with regard to the impossibility of meii maintaining their families on 5? per day, hs) woi)ld wiph to state what tliq position of tho Government in .thisrptte]: was, , The rate of'wage's had been quite as low as that on' more than one occasion siiitfe the formation of the colony. In

1881_ the pay to married moil wiis only 3s (id per day, and- now it is more . than that. The Government looked UpAsSt their granting work to the' UneinplMPf as only a casual thing, N 0 Gov'ernnjKfc! in this or any other country had 'ever I. laid it down as part of their duty to pro ; 'V vide work, therefore what the Gov<srn- ; ment was now doing should be looked upon na only temporary, and intended for ! men who could not get work elsewhere, Men must look for work, in other direq-j' 1 tions. Christckrch was unfortunate' this respect, that there were no railway'! works sanctioned by .Parliament on which*" men could be put to support themselves ' by their labor. ■ As the deputation knew, :..'' the Government had had to take .moiiey ' intended for other purposes. Whenever " tho Government had work to be done in ' the ordinaiy way they had always given the current rate of wages, whether the work was by piece work or by contractors. It was a most unfortunate thing that so many deserving men were out of employ- . ment, though there were some who, lie regretted to say, were not deserving. One man had come to the office the proceeding day who was drunk. However, lie believed that the men were decent, hard-working men, willing to do what they could. They must, however, look upon what Government gave them as being only temporary .employment, and, ' must also bear this in mind that were not the only people in distress. TheS farmers were struggling hard and worked* for much longer hours, and yet found it very difficult to make both ends meet. Compared with house rent, and prices of provisions and clothing, the wages were now higher than the colonists had received when he first camo to Now Zealand. The Government were trying their best to get wori for the men. He had wired that morning to see if employment could not be found, especially for young men, on the Greymouth and flokitika railway, The Government were most anxious to do what they could to tide over the difficulty, This was not a question of lowering wages but of seeing what could bo dono to help the unemployed. The House had voted only something like £20,000 last year for this purposes and that was more than expended, so that Government were spending unauthorised money, hoping that Parliament would indemnify them, The tiling was the questionfof permanent employment. He did not know what that. meant. Did it mean that men were to get employment for ever or what? The second resolution says:—" That we deem it absolutely necessary, in view of the approaching winter season, that permanent employment should bo provided for ft the laboring classes, ' (To this end. thef|> establishment of a State Bank entirely unconnected with any British or foreign institution for the issue of New Zealand currency as as a circulating medium is imperative and pressing); and that parliament should be immediately assembled for the purpose of authorising such permanent work and the establishment of suoli Bank of Issue. Ho must Bay that this was utter nonsense. First of all what could a Bank of Issue do 11n the colony now there was a note circulation of only about a million—hardly No doubt' Government might issue notes, and stop other banks from doing so. The colonists could use these notes of course, but the people in places outside the colony would not accept them—they would want. gold. Tho New Zealand paper money would at once fall to an enormous discount, so that 5s in paper would be worth only 2g 6d, as had been seen in America at one time; No Government could make wealth ' by erecting a printing press; they might just as well ask a merchant, who was in difficulties to increase his wealth by issuing promissory notes. A bank note wastat only a promissory note to pay—What W Certainly it must be gold; but where " could the colony get the gold to pay their notes with! It was utterly absurd. 'The 1 only way to avoid depression was to try ' 1 and get the people employed in doing' work that was bettor than Government work. Tho Government were doing their best; thoy had Messrs Baker and Marshman in Chertsey trying to find suitable land there, and in other places to put men on who understood a little about farming, and could settle there with their families, and raise sufficient to keep them till they could get work. As to permanent work, such as appeared to be suggested, it meant socialism, which would ruin tho colony utihnately. He could not consent to tli at.