The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-07
HELPING TINE UNEMPLOYED.
Au.trsIi.'- Method OF Starting The. 80
Miners In ola Gold Fi.idS.

Miners In ola Gold FIvidr.
MELBouRNE. Australia. Dee. IAN odd means
OF helping the unemployed was devised By the
Government OF this colony during the winter
Just ended here. when trade was duller and
distress more acute and general than in very
many years past 1t consisted In simply and
actually presenting gold mines to the unem-
ployed workmen. Not only this. but trans
portation to the mine was furnished. and also
tools to work IT, and provisions to last until 1t
began to nan out.
There are scattered through the colony
auriferous gullles and streams and old dig
ginEs that have been worked out, so far as
adequate commercial treturns are concerned.
but which yet may be made to yield living to
any ono who will se,k hard for it The living
Is not good enough to attract gold seekers in
good times. but at q time like the past winter.
when thousands OF unem poyed men. with de-
pendent and destitute families. walked tho
streets OF Melbourne. glad to get even crusts
and crumbs. such living as the old diCRings
afford was one to be fought for. Tho reason
why mon did not set out to obtain this living
was. OF course. because capital was needed to
reach the diggings and to work them.
Tho Department OF Mines sent experts to
the old mining regions to ascertain whore
there would be most likelihood OF the unem-
plo?yod vorkmen getting enough gold to AFFORD
n living. Some reg ions that would have yielded
fair returns to experienced miners were un-
suited for the endeavors Of the promiscuous
sisting on charity In Melbourne. To some Of
the better Of these regions parties OF unem-
perienced miners. But many places were
found where unskilled men might get enough
would be to them. under the circumstances. q
good living
the Government to thssetold dlGgings during
the winter. and most OF them were Accompa-
MED by their families. Free railway passes
where they were to prospec'. and. where Dos
siDle. further TRANSPORTATION was also fur
silllings were given to each man for the pur-
chase OF provisions and supplies. and also
ON hand TO show them how to get to work. and
remained in the region so long as necessary.
os9s1 e @ and dsrHs Mo.s 81 X. S
tricts selected for these settlements were along
streams. and here was generally found land
The experiment proved quite a success.
Almost all the, people thus Sc ut out have been
hard with little returns and have needed as.
sistance from the Government but the great
meE have made an average Of twenty to thirty
shillings week all the time they have been at
their families in quite comfortable circum-
stances. Few there are who have not been
able to make at least a livelihood. some are
now returning to Melbourne and other cities
to take IN their old lines OF work. but a great
many are remaining at the digRiDgH satisfied
with their present condition and doubtless in
many cases hoping to strike u rich patch.
The Government also settled about 300
men. most OF them with families. on Govern
ment land. under the provisions Of an act re-
Gently passed for the formation OF village set
Elements and homestead associations and
communities. Thirty-hve such settlements
were plotted out and unemployed men with
their families placed on them. with tho means
OF commencing to obtain u livelihood from the
products otthe soil. The plan OF most OF those
settlements was that Of q cooperative COM
munity. and great care was exercised to ap-
portion the unem ployed among the thirty-fve
settlements so that their individual capabili-
ties might be OF beast advantage for the com non
good. The plan was something sim Jar to that
OF the Hirsch settlements Of exiea Russian
Jews in Argentina. All these communities are
reported to be doing well. and In but few in
stances have settlers deserted them. The win
ter climate In Victoria Is of course. very mild.
and in July tho coolest month. II Is a rare
thing for the te perature to fall to freezing.
Employment was also found for some / 500
OF Melbournss unemployed during the winter
by tho Department OF Railways and the de-
psrtment OF Public Works, Altogether. though
times were duiler and distress more general
and acute during last winter than in many
years, II was In no wav So apparent on the sur
face rs in much better years There were few
professions OF idle men through the city
streets and Tow dem onstrntions OF the unem-
p!oyed, such as attracted universal attention
TO Australia the previous winter.