THE UNEMPLOYED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 702, 25 August 1870, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Our southern files furnish particulars of the meeting of unemployed, held in Christchurch on the 17th instant, and which was briefly noticed in the telegraphic news of our last issue. The following we take from the " Lyttelton Times " of the 18th : A meeting of unemployed was held in Cathedral Square, yesterday afternoon. Mr Merrin was moved to the chair. Mr E. J. Wakefield (secretary to the committee to the unemployed) read the report of the committee appointed at the former meeting. The report stated that an office had been rented next Moir's Hotel, and a register opened of those out of employment. On the I2th instant 80 registered their names ; on the 13th, 14; on the 15th, 6 j on the 16th, 9 ; and up till noon that day, 1; making a total of 110. The following are the trades and occupations:—Labourers, 77; gardeners, 6 ; gardener and groom, 1; gardener and coachman, 1; groom, &c, 1; ploughmen, 5 ; journalist, 1 ; tinsmith, 1; blacksmiths, 2; jobbing smith and engino driver, 1; carpentor, 1 j miners, 2 ; mineral borer, 1; stonemason, 1; storeman, 1; chemist, 1 ; brickmakers, 2 ; bricklayer, 1; cooks, 2 j French polisher, 1; iron moulder, 1. Out of those, two labourers and one blacksmith had found employment

since they were eurolled, the latter (34 years old), having been four months out of employment, with a wife and Bis children. Taking into account the wives and children of the married men, there were between 400 and 500 souls in Christchurch alone dependent on chance jobs or public or pi'ivate charity for their living. The list of names did not represent all those who were in want of employment, for there were many who did not like to come forward and register their names. Out of tho 110, one labourer, aged 56, declared that he had hadlittleemploymentduringfour years, and had a wife and five children, some of whom were partly or occasionally employed. The time out of employment of the remaining 109 varied from a week to nine months, the average being 54-i- days. Resolutions were carried adopting the report, with thanks to the Committee for their gratuitous attendance and exertions, and soliciting the assistance of those more fortunately situated towards defraying the expense of a legitimate and orderly agitation to obtain employment at a reasonable wage for tho working people now in distress.

Immediately after the meeting in Cathedral Square, a deputation proceeded to the Government Buildings to have an interview with the DeputySuperintendent, and Messrs Jollie and Wynn Williams, in the Old Council Chamber. On the return of the deputation, Mr Wakefield reported to those assembled in front of the Government Buildings, that the deputation was very courteously received; that the members of the Government expressed astonishment at such a state of things as was shown to exist, aDd had no idea that so much distress prevailed. Coming to the main question, the finding of employment to those in want of it. The Government had ample funds to construct the railway as far as Kaiapoi, at all events ; the money was lying in the bank at 6 per cent., but the Government couldn't give out contracts until arrangements were made with the owners of land along the line. A copy of the Act must be sent to every landowner. Landowners must get three weeks' notice, and had then to declare whether they would go to arbitration or a jury, or come to terms with the Government. Therefore the Government could not enter into anything except the survey of the line for a mouth at all events. It was the intention of the Government to give out the line in small contracts, but it would be for contractors to make arrangements with the men required. The Government distinctly said that they would not send for any more labor so long as a large number remained unemployed. The Government had put surveyors to work, so as to get on with the lino as quickly as possible. They had appointed to meet the deputation again at 12 o'clock next day, or such other time as was most convenient, after having communicated with Mr Duncan (the Mayor) with a view to seeing whether some temporary employment could be found for those willing to take a reasonable wage, and who were in distress. The Government, without forgetting the interests of employers, had shown every disposition to listen to the claims of the working men. The proceedsngs terminated with three cheers for Mr Wakefield.