THE UNEMPLOYED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3098, 24 May 1892, Page 2

THE UNEMPLOYED.

* [by electric teleqraph.— copyright.] Sydney May 23, A deputation waited on the acting Premier to-day respecting the condition of the unemployed. Mr Barton said that in times of distress like these the Magistrates should not be too severe in administering the law because men stole bread when they wore unable to get work. The law should be administered fairly, for people must live. Work would be found shortly to give employment to three thousand meu for twelve months, or six thousand for six months.

The " unemployed " trouble is reaching larger dimensions than ever before, says a Sydney writer. There are 7000 names on the books, and the number tends to increase rather than diminish. It would be unfair to lay the whole blame on protection, though there is little doubt that the more people are bled by the taxgatherer, the less money they have to spare to employ labour. The present trouble is brought about by a multiplicity of causes, some of which are beyond the control of the sufferers or of the Government. Among these may be classed the tightness of the money market. There is one, however, which the unemployed can themselves remove. They can abstain from demanding higher wages than employers can afford to pay. It takes two to agree before a contract of service can be executed. Nothing is so much needed in this new country as labour, and labour " at a price " is certain to be absorbed, provided other matters (also within the control of the unemployed) are attended to, such as industry, reliability and civility. For some time past, however, they have been sedulously taught that they a>6 entitled to demand their own price, and that any willingness to study an employer's interests, or to obey any of his behests that can possibly be evaded, is a contemptible weakness unworthy of a free and independent working man. If he can manage to draw his wages without working, he is a fine, manly specimen of the new cult. If, however, he condescends to give his best efforts in return for his pay, he is entitled a, " wage-slave,'' or some other name expressive of contumely. As wealth depends on work, it necessarily follows that the country is on the down grade towards poverty as long as the first class is in the ascendant. It has had the upper hand for a long time, having been J favoured by the artificial and deceptive prosperity brought about by the copious expenditure of borrowed money. But, now that this source of supply is cut off, or at least seriously curtailed, the colony generally is becoming more dependent epon what it can produce. The more it produces the wealthier it will be, and the better, generally speaking, will be the Jot of those who are industrious and provident. But the great obstacles in the way of production are laziness, insubordination, and the extortionate demands made by the lowest class of labourers for higher wages than their labour is fairly worth. Altogether, the men of the " big mouth " stamp—the agitators, stump orators, and fire-brands generally—have had such a long innings that some troublesome times may be expected before the pernicious effect of their inflammatory utterances is obliterated.