THE UNEMPLOYED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4054, 4 March 1892, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

& Howaoutli "Wales Deputation. The Premier of New South Wales, Mr Dibbs, is evidently perfectly fear--' leas in expressing his opinion.,. He was recently waited on by a deputation of four of the unemployed, and tho followiug conversation ensued : Mr Dibbs; Cannot you get employment anywhere? Mr Robinson: I was offered 5s a day of 12 boitrs at Rowland's cordial factory. Mr Dibbs: Why did you not accept it? Beoause the man who left had boon getting 6s a day, and I would be cutting down wages: Mr Dibbs: Don't you think that half a loaf is much better than no .bread? Mr ; Robinson: The employers always tab advan* tage of a man' when : he is down. Mr Dibbs: That is the same all the world .over. MrRobinson : It will have to be changed,' Mr Dibbs: You cannot change .human nature. Mr Robinson; It will have to be changed some time. • Mr Dibbs; Would you and others accept 7s 6d a day for pick and shovel work 1 Mr Robinson: There are some men physically incapacitated for that kind of work, and it is the duty of the Government to find work for these men, Mr Dibbs; Yon want the Government to employ all the unemployed at 7s 6d a day of eight hours as relief? Mr Robinson: Yes. Mr Dibbs: Then you will have to wait a very long while for a job; a very long while I Mr Robinson; We only ask for our own that others have robbed ; from us. Mr Dibbs; If you bring such Socialistic theories to work, you will have to wait a long time for employment, That is the kind of thing that is preventing emn ployers from employing men, and makes them button up their trousers pockets. In conclusion, Mr Dibbs said his Government were determined on no consideration to start relief works, They wanted to offer relief to legitimate unemployed, but not as charity, • In the direotion of relieving starving women and children, the Government would see that bona fide cases of destitution would be lelievtd. As to the men.they must work for what they could get for their labour. If men could satisfactorily show that the/ could obtain work in the country, he would see that they were conveyed free of expense, The "loafers" during the last boom bad done a lot of harm to the genuine men out' of employment. They would do their utmost in hurrying on public works, out would not have anything to do with relief or charitable works,"