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Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 262, 4 November 1932, Page 7

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MARCHERS RETURNING Government to Prevent Future Disturbances. HUGE COST OF UNEMPLOYED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, November 3. Large crowds, mainly composed of curious sightseers, were attracted to the Westminster area of London by the announced intention of a deputation from the Unemployed Workers' Movement, 50 strong, to present at the House of Commons a petition pressing for the abolition of the means test and economy cuts. Supporters of the movement, who'had first held a mass meeting on Camberwell Green, later proceeded to Westminster and mingled with the crowd. In the House of Commons the Home Secretary, Sir John Gilmour, gave an account of the disturbances which had occurred on Wednesday, when, after meetings In 10 parts of the metropolis, the demonstrators proceeded to Parliament Square, which had to be cleared by the police. The Minister said he thought the House and the country would realise the ineptitude of these demonstrations. The Government would consider means of preventing them in the future.

In answer to a question Mr. R. S. Hudson, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Labour, stated that since the Armistice the total payments from the Unemployment Insurance Fund amounted to £680,000,000, in addition to administration cost, £61,500,000, and interest on debt £17,500,000, while £61,500,000 had been paid in out-of-work donations.

The "hunger marchers" began to leave the city yesterday for their homes by motor coach and train. Most of them had been maintained while in London at institutions of the Public Assistance Committees.

The monthly unemployment figures, which are to be issued this week, will show a drop in unemployment of about 100,000. This is all the more satisfactory because there usually is a seasonal increase in unemployment in the period of the year to be covered by the return.