UNEMPLOYED MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 19

UNEMPLOYED MEETINGS.

This week in Auckland the bitter cry 'of the unemployed has taken a more outward and visible form in the shape of a daily procession through Queeu Street to the Trades Hall, in Hobson Street, where the trustees of that institution have granted the free use of a meeting room to keep the men off the (streets, now that the Civic Square site has been absorbed by new buildings. Each morning the men- meet at the Labour Department's unemployment bureau, in Customs Street East, after the morning call, and proceed in a procession to the Trades Hall, where their hopes and aspirations are voiced in a meeting. I saw the procession that made its way to the Toyvn Hall earlier in the week for an interview with the Mayor, and was impressed with the demeanour of the men, as compared with some ■unemployed demonstrations of past years. As one'of the deputation to the 'Mayor put, they "want work not charity," and street collections are not desired. In the ranks were unionists and non-unionists;, pursuing the one common object, that of obtaining employment.

Although 'the year started with great promise of provision for work for the workless, results so far have only touched the fringe of the situation. With loans carried for tramway extensions, many imagined that the work when started would absorb a large proportion of the employable wanting work. The Extensions have been started, but the contractors state that only about 50 extra men can be used on each extension, as only a small portion of the public road can be opened up each day. And as to the proposals of the Government, delay is experienced in this also, bo much so that the energetic member for Grey Lynn, Mr, J. S. Fletcher, M.P., got quite restive a week ago and threatened to "walk across the floor of the House" unless something tangible was soon done. In which direction he was going to walk, whether towards the Opposition or the Labour party, was not indicated. The Labour Bills Committee on Thursday reported on the Unemployed Workters Bill, promoted by Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington • urging the Government to take action this Session, and in thediscussion that followed the presentation of the report, Mr. |M. J. Savage, M.P., stated that "he ! dogmatically and absolutely refused to wait until next year." Mr. Fletcher: "I am strongly of the- opinion that the Government proposals will not meet the situation as far as unemployment is concerned."',; And while the grass is growing the st*»s is starving.