RIVAL FACTIONS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18969, 6 April 1927, Page 4

RIVAL FACTIONS.

I DIVIDED UNEMPLOYED. EOTH SIDES HOLD MEETINGS. I'rix.eedings at yesterday's meetings of the unemployed in Victoria square were at times distinctly lively, and it was evident that two factions were contending. When Mr C. Hutchison opened the proceedings the attendance was about 100, but later this number was doubled, although many present wore obviously not unemployed. Mr E. L. Hills, who has been appointed leader, said Mr H. Waters liad consented to tho holding of a concert on Sunday evening in tiic Liberty Theatre in aid of the riverbank improvement funds, and Mr George Bennett had undertaken to provide a programme. The speaker had applied to the City Council for a permit. 3Jr Hills said that he had received an undertaking from Mr C. P. Agar that he would do all in his power to support the relict scheme, aiid the payment of los -Id per day. "He stated that he would do this whether he won or lost the Mayoral election." said Mr Hills. Neither Mr Archer nor Mr Agar would make political capital out of the unemployed. It was the speaker's opinion that the Chamber of Commerce realised that the satisfied worker meant greater production, and this strengthened his opinion that it would support the scheme. It would absorb a big percentage of the unemployed. Female Unemployed. "What about the female unemployed?' 1 asked a woman in the audience. Mr Hill s said he knew there were a considerable number of unemployed women, but he had no figures. He was dealing with men only. Tho interjector: Hut you made a remark that people arc out of work and won't work. Mr Hills: There are about 1-3 in every 100. not prepared to act reasonably, and business people have become bigoted because of isolated cases of men not playing the game. All of the unemployed are not tarred with the same brush. We have to go to the business men and prove this. Mr J. Luoni: Are you able to do los 4d worth of work? You went down to Lyttelton and couldn't do the work. A voice: Shut up. Mr Hills said the meeting would not countenance the statement. Voices: Hear, hear. Mr Hills: If men are not prepared to assist this movement they should not do anything to its detriment. "Do you want them to be dead?" asked the woman. It was now suggestion time, and Mr S. H. Fournier said. "I want to mako a practical suggestion." "Vou're fully aware of tho decision of the unemployed." replied Mr Hills. Mr Fournier: Query. Mr Hills: That you won't endeavour to make any proposal. I will leave it to the meeting. The unemployed have decided to exclude you. Mr Fournier: A scandalous derision. Mr Hills called for a show of hands on the question of whether Mr Fournier should he allowed to put his motion. Mr Fournier: Only unemployed should vote. The votes were not counted, put Mr Hills said. ; 'The derision is that you should not lie heard." Not Wanted. After Mr Hills had announced that the Woolston Band' would play in the Gardens on Sunday in aid of tho riverbank improvement funds, Mr U. Dunkley endeavoured to spe^k. Thero was another show of hands, and the unemployed leader announced that it was the feeling of tho meeting that Mr Dunkley should not be heard. As Mr Hutchison, the chairman, left tho tomato case lised as a platfoinij a man shouted, "A\hat about biinging a job or two along with yon?" Mr Hutchison: I've got tons ot them. . - , i „i. li You hold meetings every day, but what's the good of them?" "Well, the way is now open for another comfortable meeting, said .li •Fournier. "Who will be chairman tor Sidney Fournier?" Mr Dunkley was proposed. Hej>a d no fair-minded Colonial would *tand for Mr Hills's attitude. He chairman, speaker leader, and d'ctato. The Victoria square platform had always hitherto been kept open by militant Labour men, and he nad not met anybody who knew Mr Bills, where he came from, and what his platform \\?s. Subsequently Mr Dunkley acted as chairman, and Mr Fournier, speech, said their leadership had noun I teen detrimental to the unemployed. Thev had stood out for work at adequate rates of pay or adequate relief, which was the policy of Labour. Mr' Harris: You are too extreme. Mr Fournier said he was an extremist. if it was extreme to resist a starvation wages policy In Ins igno.ance Mr Hills supposed that the emplovers were able to solve unemployment, which was a calamity with which society was unable to cope. The position could be adequately relieved only by the State. "I am an experienced man—not a whipper-snapper like Mr Hills," said Mr Fournier. "He lias a lack -of experience, study, and mr sia'nt." Mr Hills's policy would give them only the chores and odd jobs ot the town.

Deputation to Unions. Mr Fournier suggested "that the un- | eniploved call on the organised voiLeis, to assist them in refusing the starvation wages of the Government. He said that Mr Hills's implication was that those who would not support him were loafers. The speaker ha<» just come from a hard job, cable-laying. The dancer of the. loafer had never existed oil the relief work last wintei, ho said. Mr Fournier then moved a rcsolu- j tion alone; the lines of his suggestion. '•AVc want only the votes of genuine unemployed, unionists or non-unionists registered at the Bureau," lie said. "This is the only occasion on which ait endeavour has been made to distinguish them." The motion was seconded. An objection was raised that it was detrimental to the unemployed, unconstitutional, and illogical. "It has been carried before." said Mr Punldey. "but Mr' Hills ignored it because it came from the unemployed themselves." A voice: Which is the officially recognised meeting of the unemployed? " "Fin not concerned with that," replied the chairman. "I don't lose any sleep over the leadership, but I do lose sleep over the fact that you come hero day after day and listen to a man who never has anything to put before vou." Only a small proportion voted fo> the motion, which was declared carried unanimously. The meeting was then thrown open "for anybody who wished to put his case." Nobody accepted the invitation and Mr Dunkley called for nominations for a deputation to thf Trades Hall Unemployment Committee and trade unions. Messrs Hills, Hutchison, IhniUle.v, and Fournier were nominated, qnd «jeclired unanimously fleeted. "Both wings will now declared the chairman, closing the meeting. Registrations Xncroas?. On the Labour Department's register on Monday evening the number of ' names was 302. an increase of about 30 on the previous we«k. Yesterday 1-j rncii registered as unemployed, the

number comprising sieht single ami ssven married meu\ five ivere placed in privates employment. Fifteen im.-r selected to form tlie first batch for ilie Government's relief work at Ha warden will leave this morn inc. It is expected that the second batch will leave in about a week.