CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday MEETING OP UNEMPLOYED.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1083, 3 June 1879, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday MEETING OP UNEMPLOYED.

A meeting of. the unemployed was held last evening at the Oddfellow's Hall. About 600 persons were present, but certainly not more than one-half belonged to the class for whom the meeting was called. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, and with the exception of some confusion consequent upon turning out a drunken man, the meeting was very orderly. The following resolutions were carried : —-" That in the opinion of the meeting, the attention of the Government should be called to the present state of the labor market in Christchureh and neighborhood, as evinced by the large number (between 500 and 600 men being at present unemployed), the majority of whom had,families depending on them, and whom they find it almost iuipbsible to keep from starvation; and they would re spectfully request that the Government would find them such employment as will, in the present crisis, enablo them to provide for the maintenance of themselves and of >those depending upon them, and also respectfully call the attention of the Government to the fact that public works, which were authorised by the House ot Assembly at the last session have not yet been taken in hand, and would urce upon the Government the necessity of such being immediately proceeded with, which would relieve the present depression; and also that in the event of their beiug unable to proceed with such forthwich they would, as at a former period of 'great distiess, grant the Christchurch and Sydenham Borough Councils a subsidy of £ for £, which would enable a large number of men to be at once employed in completing the formation of the South town belt, a work greatly needed for the purpose of. traffic, and es-' pecially for sanitary purposes." " That this meeting is of ot opinion that the present rate of immigration is out of proportion to the present demand for labor, and the same should be considerably reduced so as not to overstock the labor market as at present is." "That His Worship the Mayor be respectfully requested to forward the foregoing resolutions to the Minister of Public Works, and that he be kind enough to impress upon the Minister the urgency of the case.*'