POLICE CALLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 8

POLICE CALLED.

NOISY UNEMPLOYED. TOWN HALL DEMONSTRATION. CORRIDOR CLEARED. NO RESISTANCE OFFERED. When a deputation of about 200 unemployed made a- noisy demonstration at the Town Hall this morning, demanding that the whole of their number be heard, and not merely their elected executive, police cleared the corridor at the request of the .Mayor, Mr. George Baildon. The men left the building grumbling noisily, hut offering no resistance to the two constables who had been summoned to maintain order. The deputation marched from St. Matthew's parish hall, where a meeting of unemployed was held. A number of men, appointed as a committee, made fervent appeals to the assembly to stand together in "demanding 1 justice." We want reserves—no battle was ever yet won with front line troops alone!" shouted one of the orators. "Stand shoulder to shoulder! Let the street be black with unemployed!" This announcement was greeted with loud cheers. A few minutes before noon the 200 men marched into the corridor of the Town Hall, making towards the Mayor's room. The uniformed orderly attempted to stop the leader, to acquaint him of the fact that the Mayor would hear only the committee, and not the whole body, but he was brushed aside, and:the column swept down the passage. "Full Union Rates!" When the men arrived, Mr. Baildon and the town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, were in conference with the Hon. A. ,'J. Stallworthv, Minister of Health. Shouting, "We want work!" ''We want the Mayor!" and "Give lis a hearing!" the crowd of men made a considerable din in the corridor, but it was noticeable that a handful were doing most of the shouting. The Minister decided to remain in the Mayor's room to hear the committee place their case before Mr. Baildon. When the Mayor opened the door there were loud shouts, and when he callea for silence there was an uproarious shout. "I will see the committee in my room —I won't see you outside," said Mr. Baildon. "The committee can come inside." "That's no good to us!" was the immediate response. "See the lot of us!" '"We ratepayers demand justice!" "We want work at full union rates!" "Yes, full union rates!" "Don't We Feed You?" One or two men took a few steps inside the Mayor's room, but there wele angry shouts from the crowd. "Come back, come back, stick to your decision. Look, fellow workers, the committee is letting us down!" One of the men who had entered caught sight of the tigerskin mat and stuffed head on the floor of Mayor's room. "Oh! Look at that —luxury in the rich Mayor's room—a regular palace, while we starve!" . "You'll do what we tell you—don't we feed, you 1" demanded one of the young men in the corridor, who seemed to have a great deal to say. The Mayor waved him aside, and repeated his determination to see only the selected representatives of the men. >

After a great deal more noise, which the Mayor suffered in patience, standing in the doorway, a woman insisted on making a speech, She said she was the mother of six children, that her husband had been out of work for three years, and that "it wasn't a fair thing." She wanted to know whether the unemployed were "going to stand for it." Three years ago, she said, the unemployed had approached the Mayor, committees'had been formed, and next to' nothing had been done. To-day they all stood where they stood three years ago. (Loud shouts of discontent.) Two Constables Arrive. After more wrangling among themselves, the men evidently decided that the committee was not to interview the Mayor, although one or two men seemed anxious to enter the office. At this stage two constables arrived and stood behind Mr. Baildon. "They can raise £2000 for Poppy Day, but they can't give us work!" shouted one man. "We demand maintenance at trade union rates!. The Mayor has given us his ultimatum —he won't sec usi" "I never said that," contradicted Mr. Baildon. "I'll see the committee you have appointed!" "You won't! You won't! You'll see the lot of us!" was the man's retort. The Mayor said that if that was the attitude they were going to adopt they would have to leave at once, and as some of the men appeared reluctant to depart, he asked the police to clear the corridor. This was done quietly and tactfully, and the men congregated for an informal meeting on the pavement.