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DEPUTATION TO MR BENT.
PREMIER SYMPATTTETTTn
About 200 of -the unemployed as
sembled outside the State Public Offices
on 21st February, and a deputa
tion, consisting of Mr Tom Mann, Mr H.
H. Champion and ten others, was sent
zo wait on the Premier.
As soon as the deputation entered the
Premier's room,'
The Premier,, addressing one member
of the deputation, an elderly gentleman,
said; — "Hello, Mr Brown, are you one of
the unemployed V?
Mr Brown replied to the effect that he
was a sympathiser.
Mr Tom Mann Bald that the number
of unemployed was larger than was
generally supposed. He wou'd ask the
Premier to provide work for able-bodied
men who were willing and anxious to
work anywhere, -and also for men who,
being physically weak, were unable to
do rough-and-touble work. Although
many of both classes, might be absorbed
by works to be put in hand, there would
be still a number left, and ha would
urge Mr Bent to provide for the re
mainder. Great Britain and Germany
had recognised their obligations in this
regard, although not In too satisfactory
a manner. The suggestion he would
make was that tbe State should under
take scientific agricultural settlements,
under skilled supervision.
Mr Ward said that some men who
had not taken work offered at Mount
Buffalo were painters, and unfit for
such work. It was undesirable to
separate them from their families, es
pecially when children were at an -age
when they required fatherly super
vision. He would recommend Mr Bent
to putTin hand the "straight cut" har
bor improvement project. Painters,
carpenters, plasterers, bricklayers,
stonemasons, and members of
kindred .trades were out of work,
and he would ask Mr Bent to
find work for them, If possible, at
their own occupations. If a man went
a long distance, and working at piece
work at road-making made smaii
wages, he could send very little to liis
family. As he was in work, if he did
not pay his landlord and the grocer,
they regarded him as a dishonest man.
If he were out of work altogether, they
sympathised with him. Men fit for
hard work should, he would urge, ce
paid so much a day.
Mr. H. Maurice, a middle-aged man,
said that he knew of 400 unemployed
men who were willing to work. He
was not ashamed to say that he was
starving, in a manner. For the past
past four months his wife and himself
had been living on bread and dripping.
Perhaps he was weak at present, but
he was honest and sober, and had good
references. He was willing to take
any work, and It was the first -time that
he had come to a Minister of therCrown
in that way. He had come to ask for
a living, and had been appointed to
state what was the truth.
Mr Brown said that property owners
and the whole community, in fact, suf-
ferd by a large number of men being
out of work.
THE PREMIER'S REPLY.
Mr Bent, in reply, said that he sym
pathised as much as any man did with
workless men ; In fact, he felt depressed
when he saw in all directions men who
could not obtain employment. The
members of the Cabinet were time,
after time trying to find work.' Mr
Swinburne, Minister for Water Supply
(who was present) had let tenders for
water supply channels and other works,
and he" was told by the contractors
therefor that they coald not get men.
He had been told that work could be
provided for 70 or. 80 painters. The via
duct painting work was in hand, and
some similar work was to be done on
railway buildings in Goulburn Valley.
He had urged Mr Tait to start every bit
of painting work that he could. He
thought that Mr Mann might have given
him some information of a practical
character. He was in favor of the
"straight cut" project, but Mr Ferguson
was coming from New 'Zealand to re
port on_ harbor improvements. Some of
the newspapers said that the "straight
cut" was a mad scheme, but if
Mr Ferguson reported in favor of it, it
ought to be carried out. There was a
strong feeling held by some that widen
ing the Yarra would be the best thing.
Well, the Yarra was being widened, and
the West, Melbourne swamp was being
reclaimed In a way that he hoped would
result in much employment in the future.
Nobody had a greater desire than he to
find employment. He had arranged work
In the country at Mount Buffalo and
East Gippsland that would carry men
over" four or five months, and did not
-stipulate for piece work.
A member of thie deputation said that
the Mount Buffalo work was let in con
tracts.
Mr Bent, continuing, said that he ad
mitted that there were physically weak
men, end he had borne that fact In mind
In introducing and having passed .the
Small Holdings Bill. Of course, work
ing men, like himself, got weak, and
they could not be expected to do tbe
hardest of work. He had hoped that
euch men would, by the operations of
the: Small Holdings Act, go in for mind
ing the fowls — poultry breeding— and
ouch light: kinds of occupations.
Mr Swinburne (Minister for Agricul
ture): There are 26CT email holding pet-
tters. .. ' " yi
- Mr Bfent'. Yea, ana We have put "on 40
carpenters to put up homes for them.
Mr Swinburne: That's really your sys
tem, Mr Mann — co-operation.
Mr Mann: In part.
NOT SWEET ON LONDON.
Mr Bent, continuing, said: Reference
has been made by you, Mr Mann, to
Great Britain. I am not so sweet on
London as you are, my boy.
Mr Mann: It is not a model place.
Mr Bent: I saw men over that bridge
in London— a thousand of them taken
away of a night or morning by the
Salvation Army. I don't see that there
is anything in England to copy. I
sympathise with the deputation, and
am prepared to be practical if
you show me anything reasonable.
I sent Mr Davidson (Inspector-
General of Public Works) yesterday
to the Law Courts to see what
painting was necessary. He says thht
he can take a "sweep" of schools and
paint them as they do railway stations.
We admit that to keep men employed
is the best investment we can get, and
if you can show me what can be done
I will do all I possibly can.
Mr Mann suggested pushing on with
irrigation and water conservation works
and making roads to serve closer settle
ments.
Mr Swinburne said that nobody had
provided more money for water supply
and irrigation works than Mr Bent.
After further conversation,
Mr Bent said that the establishment
of a larger labor colony, and oil different
lines to that about to be discontinued
at Leongatha, was in contemplaJoH.--
He thought it likely that homcygwouLd
be found for thousands in Ufe "AjaHce"
by the Government's velopment
scheme. He felt inclined to ;pu| f|ip ;
homes for the people who settled- on" the
land. Why shouldn't he?\ Some. jqf.
those with the deputation <11. thchl-i
selves socialistic. He did not"1tnw
why they made a parade of It.
A member of the deputation: That is
our right.
Mr Bent: Oh, it's your right. All
right.
Mr Ward suggested some small im
provements at the Law Courts.
Mr Bent said that those Improvements
were only trifling. What w.as wanted
was a comprehensive scheme. He would
submit the matter .to the Cabinet.- on
Monday, and would be glad to meet a
committee of three of the unemployed.
A member of the deputation: Hear,
hear.
Mr Bent, in conclusion, said: — "I am
not going to talk about whether the un
employed movement is political or not. I
don't care a button about that aspect. If
people are suffering, and willing to work,
it is my duty to aid them, especially if I
can get something like fair value for the
money required to be spent."
After Mr Koonin had spoken on behalf
of 50 waiters who, he said, were unem
ployed, and Would like some light work,
the deputation retired.
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