DEMONSTRATION BY T.U.C.

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 4

DEMONSTRATION BY T.U.C.

ABOUT 1000 PERSONS ATTEND

PROTEST AGAINST COST OF LIVING

A resolution calling upon the Government "to take immediate steps to implement its promises and not to shelter behind the Court of Arbitration” was carried unanimously at the protest demonstration organised by the Canterbury provisional council of the Trade Union Congress, which was held in the Civic Theatre yesterday. The demonstration was attended by about 1000 persons, including waterside workers, freezing workers, carpenters, rubber workers, and other workers who had stopped work to attend, and housewives and pensioners. It was called as a protest against the removal of subsidies and the increased cost of living. The chairman (Mr H. G. Kilpatrick) described the demonstration as "very successful.” The resolution said that the Government had not lived up to its pre-elec-tion promises to protect the living standards of the mass of the people and to increase the buying power of the £. On the contrary the Government had failed to implement its promises by removing subsidies on basic food items to such an extent that recent price increases had made their promises worthless. It described the recent interim wage order and the increase in pensions as “entirely inadequate.” “This meeting expresses the opinion that a strong and resolute trade union movement is the surest safeguard against the lowering of living standards, and calls on all progressive people and organisations to rally behind the Trade Union Congress in this struggle,” the resolution added.

A wage-earner who could keep his wife and family on his present wage was as extinct as the moa, said the secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr T. Hill), who was the principal speaker. “Under this Government we cannot expect anything but an attack on the living standards of the workers of this country,” he said. “It represents people who want bigger dividends and higher rents. Our only hope lies in collective organisation and in collective action.”

Mr Hill said that he did not believe in arbitration and neither did his organisation. Neither did the Prime Minister. “When Mr Holland lifted subsidies he did not submit the proposal to us, nor to the Court. He took direct action. Constitutional avenues are not good enough. We must use our collective right to use our collective strength to raise our standards,” he said.

Repeal of Conscription Sought It was elementary why the cost of living had risen, Mr Hill said. “You are paying to-day for khaki suits and their cost is £17,000,000. You should demand the immediate repeal of conscription so that the money can go back to the workers and the boys can go back to their jobs." Another reason was that many workers believed that their economic safety lay in one party. No matter how the Opposition fought, the Government’s policy would be endorsed. The responsibility rested on the trade union movement to maintain its standards and a strong movement was the only thing to which the Government would listen. “We cannot accept the situation where there will be a continual depression of our living standards.” he said.

Referring to the appeal for increased production, Mr Hill said that every shop seemed to be full. There was not a shortage of goods but a shortage of money. In the United States the shelves were full but there were 5,000,000 unemployed. “The only time when the workers have the power is when there is a shortage of goods,” he said. “Don't be fooled about increased production. What we want is increased purchasing power.” Her organisation believed in constitutional methods, said the president of the Canterbury Housewives’ Union (Mrs M. E. Furey). She urged everyone to sign the petition prepared by the union asking for wage and pension increases and the reintroduction of price control. “We don’t expect pennies from heaven nor pounds from Parliament, but we hope that with 50.000 signatures they will sit up and take notice.”

Other speakers were Messrs Colin Clark, representing the Canterbury University College Socialist Club, A. Ostler (Communist Party) and Mrs J. Moses (Progressive Youth Club). Before the meeting about 350 men and women marched along Madras street from Moorhouse avenue to the theatre. Two large banners bearing protests against increased living costs were carried by waterside workers and there were dozens of placards bearing slogans protesting against the removal of subsidies and price control.