Coast millers march

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 1

Coast millers march

More than 70 West Coast timber workers and supporters marched through the streets of- Christchurch yesterday led by a farmer wearing a kilt and gumboots, and playing the bagpipes. The farmer was Mr G. Stewart, of Stillwater. Also at the head of the marchers was Mr R. Shirley, manager for Fletcher's on the West Coast, Mr R. F. Beadle, secretary of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union, and Mr J. Innes, vice-chairman of the union. The men were wearing bush gear, including safety helmets.

They marched from the Christchurch Railway Station to Cathedral Square, listened to speeches by Messrs Beadle and Shirley, and had their photographs taken. They then marched down Colombo Street to Dundas Street, where they dispersed. To the sound of the pipes, the men occasionally broke out singing the line, “When the Coast comes marching in.” They were accompanied on their march by three policemen and a traffic patrol car. City workers gazed from their offices and stores as the demonstrators marched by.

The men are employed by about eight mills in the Greymouth-Hokitika area. They were on full pay for the march. Mr Shirley said that the idea of marching in Christchurch came from the union, which had invited sawmillers’ representatives to take part. Another march would be held in Greymouth on August 12. Some of the men carried placards. In a short address in the Square, Mr Shirley called on the people of Christchurch to support West Coasters in their “fight for survival.”