LIVELY INTERVIEW

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 125, 8 March 1935, Page 3

LIVELY INTERVIEW

WOMEN AND LIVING CONDITIONS PROTEST TO MINISTER. (Special to the " Guardian.") WELLINGTON, March 7. Words were not minced- by a deputation of relief workers' wives which waited to-day on the Minister of Employment (Sir Alexander Young) to protest against present hying conditions.

About forty women assembled at Parliament House, but only twelve were admitted to the Minister's room, the remainder staying in the Labour Whip's room. Replying the Minister saidi that quite a lot that had been said certainly moved one.* The requests would be considered by the Unemployment Board and' he wduld" make representations to the Government, "I intend to make no promises, because I am not in a position to do so," he said. "I do ndt want you to go away thinking that the Minister has no sympathy." " Mrs Henders6n: Would it be comyenient for you to rise? There are some ladies here who cannot see you. The Minister (rising): I am sorry. I thought I could see everybody. A woman: ■ Why are those people -who have power to do the things we ask not here to-day? The Minister: That's an argument 1 can't enter into. Mr P. Fraser, M.P., said that first of all the deputation wished to the Prime Minister and Mr Coates, "because, quite frankly," said Mr Eraser, "we anticipated the cold and disappointing answer you gave these women. I think it's a poor subterfuge on the part of the Government. I am bitterly disappointed because I never have known you to give such an unsatisfactory and negative answer, and that after the Prime Minister put the responsibility on you of receiving the deputation. We are now told that the Minister will get the requests typewritten and analysed later on. Surely to God the Government can do something more effective than, saying they will get statements type-writen!" Milk for Children. Mrs Snow said the Minister stated that the health of the people was the primary consideration. She asked that milk should be given to children who needed it. "The Unemployment Board are your servants," she said "not your bosses. There is this baby four months old. Look at its poor little legs. I have some sons lying in France and I ask you in the name of the boys lying in France to grant milk, which is the least you can do." The Minister: I am not aware that any children are deprived of milk. Mrs Vaughan (producing a letter): Read this. I get ten pints for four children. Mrs Cook produced reports of Junket nurses and showed them to the Minister. "To be blind to the position shows the most lamentable ignorance of conditions in the country," she said. The Minister: The board is sympathetic, and where individual cases of hardship are reported the board deals with them. Mr Fraser: I don't know of a more unsympathetic diet than sympathy. Mr Semple, M.P-, said his advice to the women was to see the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. 'lf you are going to continue these miserly conditions there will be hell m NewZealand You are looking for it and you vrill get it," he said, leaving the room and slamming the door. The Minister said that Mr Bromley (deputy chairman of the Unemployment "Board) said that some of the points raised could be adjusted. "But,' said the Minister, "I think that the proper thing is to go into the matter and make adjustments as soon as possible." ' Mrs Vaughan: After to-night I am going to take the milk, and perhaps the law, in the name of the King, will give me justice. *..■."', Mr Bromley said that after the last deputation he had said that Mrs Vaughan under the new conditions should be no worse off than she had been previously. ••_ Members of the deputation: What are we going to do?

"Storm the House.'' Mrs Vaughan: Storm the House. Walk into Parliament. Members of the deputation expressed their intention of sitting in the Minister's, room till they got a satisfactory answer from him, but were persuaded by Mr Fraser and Mrs Snow to leave. A report was then made to the waiting women in the Whip's room, where the Labour members addressed them. It was ultimately arranged that the women should address members of Parliament in the social hall of Parliament Hpuse next Wednesday. Scattered around Parliament Buildings were a large number of members of°tb.e Police Force, including several detectives, but their services were not required. ' Labour members promised the deputation that they would endeavour to arrange an interview with Mr Forbes. Labour members provided the women with refreshments• and milk for the children attached to the party. "You Are Starving Us." In protesting to Sir Alexander Young against the present conditions of relief, the principal speaker, Mrs A. Henderson, said they demanded the right to live, not exist as they were doing. Tha Government should create conditions so that work would be available for men and till those conditions were brought about they demanded a reasonable sum on which to live as people lived in this country. Other speakers put the case of youths and children, etc., and one declared, "You are making rogues, vagabonds and despicable people of us. You are starving us and hitting below the belt. We would retaliate if we could, but a little baby can't even tongue back to you. I have raised my little son on rations, as though he was a prisoner, yet he is a future soldier and citizen of this country." She said that even a cat would steal for its kittens. At the Tailwaggers' Club ten shillings a week was allowed for food for an Alsatian. A dirty dog was given more consideration than a child.