REMOVAL OF SUBSIDIES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 2

REMOVAL OF SUBSIDIES

Stop-Work Meetings Throughout N.Z. DEMONSTRATIONS ON JUNE 28

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 26. Demonstrations against the removal of subsidies are to be organised throughout New Zealand by the New Zealand Trade Union Congress. The demonstrations, which will be run on a stop-work basis, will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 28, on which day the Speech from the Throne will be made at the opening of Parliament. A statement to this effect was

made this evening by Mr F. G. Young, chairman of the congress.

Mr Young said that at the request of a leading union the congress had decided to organise the demonstrations. Wellington demonstrators, he said, would congregate in and round the grounds of Parliament Buildings. It was proposed to co-operate with the police and the civic authorities so that the demonstration could be handled in a manner that would avoid congestion or traffic hold-ups.

The Federation of Labour would be invited to co-opcrate, said Mr Young, thereby enabling all unions to throw their full weight behind the demonstration, regardless of internal differences.

The demonstration would be run on a stop-work basis, each union to work out its own schedule to facilitate attendance. Essential services such as hotels and tramways, should they decide to co-operate, would be expected to cut the hold-up period to a minimum to create a minimum of inconvenience for the public. Mr Young said it was also decided to hold an indoor meeting within the next few days to protest against the removal of subsidies. Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, president of the Labour Party, would be invited to speak, together with selected trade union leaders.

Mr P. M. Eutler, a member of the national executive of the Federation of Labour, commenting to-night on Mr Young's announcement, said the necessity at the moment was not for parades and windy resolutions, but a general wage increase. The federation’s representatives were at present taking practical steps to protect the workers by seeking in the Arbitration Court a general wage increase.