"WE WANT FORBES!"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 9

"WE WANT FORBES!"

BAND OF UNEMPLOYED.

FORCE WAY THROUGH GATES.

POLICE TAKE CONTROL,

"One big union for unemployed and casual workers." This was the lettering inscribed on a banner carried in front of a band of some 30 or 40 men who paraded on the Prince's wharf this morning prior to the sailing of the Aorangi. Special arrangements had been made for the Prime Minister to address his party supporters in the upstairs portion of shed 20, the entrance being some distance from the ordinary gates admitt^c vessel. Here the men halted, awaiting the Prime Minister's arrival from his Town Hall reception. They were not very noisy in the early stages, but contented themselves with loudlv calling: "Wc want Forbes." We want work."

The Aorangi was timed to sail at eleven o'clock and when 11.20 arrived, somebody informed the head of the demonstrators that Mr. Forbes had changed his plans and would go straight aboard from the usual entrance. The parade moved off, inviting all casual workers to join in the march. Arrived at the entrance gates, which were wide open and manned bv several members of the Harbour Board'staff, ihe men * attempted to go through. The officials, scenting trouble, immediately attempted to close the barrier. They were too late, and could not get the* gates shut until the banner holders and several of the leaders Had thrust themselves through.

There was a strong body of police on the wharf, including a number of plain clothes officers, and they quickly came to the rescue. They held the barrier against a strong assault, which at one stage nearly reached success. Once the affair had an ugly look. The men were not singing or "counting out," but appeared to bo grimly determined to force an entrance. The police and Harbour Board officials, however, were assisted by citizens, and order was quickly restored. The banner holders and the few who had succeeded in slipping through were singled out by the police and passed back to their comrades.

There was no further attempt to storm the barrier, and the "deputation" contented themselves up to the time the Aorangi backed out of her berth with a half-hearted demonstration of boohing and "counting out." In the meantime in the shed abutting on the wharf there were cheers for Mr. Forbes and the United party, heartily given by friends and supporters, and as each burst of applause reached the demonstrators a fresh outburst of hostility came from the band outside.

Hearing the demonstration while h* was speakinjr Mr. Forbes remarked, with a smile: "There are some more of our friends out there; that is their way of cheering. It is a different language from ours." (Laughter.)

After the Aorangi left the demonstrators moved quietly off to the old dock site, and held a meeting without interruption.