THE MASTERTON UNEMPLOYED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5034, 25 May 1895, Page 3

THE MASTERTON UNEMPLOYED.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour, enclosing the resolutions passed at a meeting of the unemployed, and a list, prepared by the Town Clerk, of applicants for work, Mr Hogg, M.H.R., says

" The application of so many unemployed oud destitute men in Jlasterlon is due, I think, to the fact that having to contribute a pool' rate, the country settlers decline to furnish with food and lodgings the swagmen and others who have hitherto been accommodated at the various stations. Of course these men cannot be allowed lo starve, and rations will have to be supplied; hence there is reason to apprehend that this winter the demands ot this district on the United Charitable Aid Board will be greatly increased.

It is freely alleged that less labour is employed on some of the linger propel ties than in former years. There is reason to believe that in some cases our pastoralists have had to reduce their working stall' owing to diminished incomes. I submit, however, that to prevent misconception of facts and motives, a return might be prepared setting forth the areas, number of souls resident, and number of hands employed on farms and runs of a thousand acres and upwards; the return to show the numbers at the corresponding period of last yea;-. An annual return of this kind would be use- j till as indicating whether the country is | being depopulated or otherwise. I notice that some of the Wellington suburban bodies propose to assist the unemployed by means of public works,the I ftmdsfor which arctobcprovidodbyloanj subscriptions and assistance from the state. If money is to be handed over to local bodies fo: works like the Queen's Drive this winter, would it not be well that the amount of subsidy which (lie Government is prepared to grant should be defined? My reason for asking this is that possibly the burgesses and Borough Council of Masterton might be induced to improve tlis banks of the Waipoua river and prevent further river encroachments if it was understood that the money subscribed would be liberally subsidised. Of course I am not suggesting that this mode of helping the labour market should be adopted, The utilisation of the timber lying alongside of the railway line would probably give some work temporarily to the unemployed if steps were taken for its storage and advantageous disposal in the city."