The Irish standard., 1894-03-10
GAVE IN EN- .Gt) I'D N NES.
Australia's Method OF Caring Tor
Her Unemployed.
An Experiment That Proved 20 he .
Great success In Providing for Poor
People Who Were Entirely
Destjtute.

Great Success In Providing for Poor
People Who Were Entirely
Destitute.
An odd means of helping the unem-
ployed was devised by the government
Of Victoria during last winter, when
trade was duller and distress more
acute and general than in very many
years past. 1t. consisted, says cor
respondent of the New York Sun, in
actually presenting gold mines to the
unemployed workmen. Not only this,
but transportation to the mines was
furnished, and also tools to work it
and provisions to last until it began to
pan out. There are scattered through
the colony auriferous gullies and
streams and old diggings that have
been worked out, so far as adequate
commercial returns are concerned, but
which may yet be made to yield liv-
ing to any one who will seek hard for
it. The living is not good enough to
attract gold seekers in good times, but
at a time like the past winter, when
thousands of unemployed men, with
dependent and destitute families,
walked the streets of Melbourne, glad
to get even crusts and crumbs, such a
living as the old diggings afford was
one to be fought for. The reason why
men did not set out to obtain this liv-
ing was, of course, because capital was
needed to reach the diggings and to
work them. The department Of mines
send experts to the old mining regions
to ascertain where there would be
most likelihood of the unemployed
workmen getting enough gold to afford
living. Some regions that would
have yielded fair returns to expert
enced miners were unsuited for the en-
beavers of the prcsniscuous workers,
willing but unskilled, who were sub
sisting on charity in Melbourne. To
To some of the better of these regions
parties of unemployed were sent in
charge of one or two experienced
miners. But many places were found
where unskilled men might get enough
gold from the creeks and rivers to af-
ford what would be to them, under the
circumstances, good living.
About three thousand men were sent
out by the government to these old
diggings during the winter and most
of them were accompanied by their
families. Free railway passes were
provided to the station nearest the
place where they were to prospect,
and, where possible, further transpor-
tation was also furnished. On arriv
ing at the diggings thirty shillings
were given to each man for the pur-
chase of provisions and supplies and
also a few simple tools. Experienced
miners were on hand TO show them
how to get to work, and remained in
the region SO long as necessary.
Twenty to fifty and a hundred families
were located in some of the diggings.
Most Of the districts selected for these
settlements were along streams and
here was generally found land suitab BILE
fer raising fruits and vegetables The
experiment proved success. Almost
all the people thus sent out have been
making fair living. Some have had
to work hard with little returns and
have needed assistance from the gov
eminent, but the great majority have
done really we'll. Some of the men
have made an average Of from twenty
*, thirty shillings a wee all the time
they have been at the djggings, which
was sufficient to maintain their fami-
lies in comfortable circumstances. Few
there are who have not been able to
make at least livelihood. Some re-
turned to Melbourne and other cities
TO take up their old lines of work, but
a great many are remaining at the dig
gings, satisfied with their present con-
dition, and doubtless in many cases
hoping to strike rich patch.
The government also settled about
eighteen hundred men, most of them
with families, on government land,
under the provisions Of an act recently
passed for the formation OF village
settlements and homestead associa-
tions and communities. Thirty-five
such settlements were plotted out and
unemployed men with their families
placed on them, with the means of
commencing to obtain q livelihood
from the products of the soil. The
plan of most of these settlements was
that of cooperative company, and
great care was exercised to apportion
the unemployed among the thirty-flve
settlements so that their individual
capabilities might be of the best advan-
tage for the common good. The plan
was something similar to that of the
Hirsch settlements Of exiled Russian
Jews in Argentina. All these commu-
mites are reported to be doing well,
and in but few instances have settlers
deserted them. The winter climate in
Victoria is, of course, very mild, and
in July, the coolest month, it is rare
thing for the temperature to fall to
freezing.
Employment was also found for some
fifteen hundred Of Melbourne's unem- !
ployed during the winter by the de-
partment of railways and the depart
ment Of public works. Altogether,
though times were duller and distress .
more general and acute during last !
winter than in many years, it was in ,
no way so apparent on the surface as !