Thousands march for Solidarity

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 1

Thousands march for Solidarity

PA Wellington Several thousand people marched to Parliament yesterday in support of the Polish trade union movement. Solidarity.

The crowd — estimated at more than 5000 — marched through Wellington before assembling on the lawn in front of Parliament Buildings to hear the congratulations of the Prime Minister i Mr Muldoon) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling). and to sing the Polish and New Zealand national anthems.

Mr Muldoon told Mr A, J. Neary, national secretary of the Electrical Workers' Union and one of the main organisers of the march, "we find ourselves entirely in agreement on this issue." He congratulated Mr Neary on organising the demonstration and said that the Government would give full consideration to an open letter from the march committee seeking strong condemnation of the imposition of martial law in Poland.

Mr Rowling said that he was "sure this tremendous human message would not be lost on anyone." As the thousands of marchers gathered in brilliant sunshine. — some bearing Trade Union banners in spile of the lack of official support from the Federation of Labour — a handful of police stood bv.

They made no attempt to dissuade some of the marchers from climbing over the barricades keeping the marchers back from Parliament's forecourt and generally stood well back from the demonstration. About 10 Labour members of Parliament joined in the march but there was no representation from National or Social Credit members. Mr Neary said that he was "absolutely delighted” with the success of the march. "I hate to think how many thousands we have got here. It is an exceptionally good gathering.” The president of the Polish Association in .New Zealand. Mr Zezislaw Lepionka. called the turnout "tremendous."

"It is a much bigger crowd than we expected." he said. "The support from the general public is terrific. It

shows the feeling of New Zealanders ... even though this is one of the countries farthest away from Poland." The freedom cherished in New Zealand was wanted for Poland too. he said. Mr Muldoon, flanked by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Cooper) and the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) said that he would consider if there was anything further the Government could do. The Government has already issued strong public condemnations of the imposition of martial law and the involvement oi the Soviet Union. . ' .

The open letter, from the marchers, addressed. to the. three parties represented in Parliament, asked for.T.the;. message from our gathering'’ to be conveyed to the Polish authorities.' "We have marched today to express our deep concern over recent events in Poland whereby martial law was introduced depriving Polish I citizens and workers of their ' fundamental rights-and free- ; doms." the letter said. Picture page 6 ■