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DEPRESSION IN VICTORIA.
Melbourne. Mav 4.
A large deputation interviewed the
Minister of Railways to-day and urged
him to immediately commence the con
struction of the proposed railway line
from Flemington-road to Pascoe Yale in
order to relieve the distress existing in the
district. Mr. A. Deakin, ex-Chief Secre
tary, was one of the deputation, and the
Minister took advantage of the oppor
tunity to repeat Mr. Dealdn's rebuke on
the hustings that it was grossly unconsti
tutional for the Government to commence
railways without Parliamentary sanction.
However, he promised to lay the matter
before his colleagues.
The depression in the printing trade
was brought under the notice of
the Minister . of Public Works by
a deputation • of compositors to
day. They pointed out that while
Mr. Hancock, ex M.L.A , draws £3 10s.
per week from the Typographical Society,
that body will not permit compositors to
work for less than Is. 2d. per thousand,
which rate was fixed during boom times,
and they were now prepared to accept any
work where they can earn 6s. per day.
Mr. Graham, while sympathising with the
men, said that if a handful of men sought
to maintain high wages they would suffer
in the long run. A purely selfish policy
! was not always wise, and he regretted
| that the acts of the leaders had brought
| disaster upon so many men. He promised
; to do all he could to provide work for
| them, but it would lie outside their
! calling.
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