MANY UNEMPLOYED AT CHRISTCHURCH

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 83, 6 January 1928, Page 10

MANY UNEMPLOYED AT CHRISTCHURCH

GRIEVANCES VOICED AT OPENAIR MEETING

HOSPITAL BOARD CRITICISED Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, January 5. Following upon a meeting held in Victoria Square this morning, a deputation of the unemployed waited on the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) to ask for assistance. They protested strongly against their ■ treatment by the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, claiming that the food was not’ sufficient and that they were not in a condition to work for a whole day before getting it. A sub-committee appointed by the unemployed has taken a census of those out of work, and it was reported that to-day G 32 men were without jobs. The meeting in Victoria Square was attended by a hungry, wretched-looking collection of men. Some stated that they had had no food for three days; some had not touched meat for a week; some stood, others lay on the ground too weak to stand. Work, not charity, was the theme of the speeches made by the leaders of the men to-day. Mr. J. Pearson, who took the chair, said that there were men amongst them who had not had food for three days. They did not want charity; they wanted work. They represented nearly every branch of trade and not merely the labourer, though there was a large number of that class of worker amongst them.

Mr. W. J. Brightmore complained mainly of the rations which the Hospital Board distributed. They were not sufficient, he said, and what was more, the men had to work before they got the rations. Sometimes the men were not fit to work after the privations they had suffered. At the conclusion of the meeting it was decided to visit the Mayor and put complaints before him. The meeting then formed itself into a deputation to see the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P.). The procession, numbering about fifty, went round to the Council Chambers, and after a wait of over half an hour was informed that Mr. Sullivan could not possibly get down to-day, but that he would meet the deputation at noon to-morrow. Then the town clerk (Mr. J. S. Neville) came, and he was bombarded with questions. He could do nothing however. The men explained that the position was urgent, as tile men had no food in their homes and could not get any till to-morrow. Although they were to go to the Hospital Board this afternoon, the board insisted upon a day’s work before any food was issued.

After a fairly long talk tfle men decided to place their case before the Hospital Board and endeavour to get an issue of food to-dav.

APPEAL TO HOSPITAL BOARD INCREASED RELIEF GIVEN. Protesting that the 12s. 6d. a day allowed by the Hospital Board was insufficient, a deputation from the unemployed waited on the Benevolent Committee of the board this afternoon. About 40 men attended. Mr. J. Pierson was the spokesman. During the proceedings one of the men (Mr. 11. F. Holloway) strongly criticised Mrs. A. E. Herbert, a member of the board. “I should like to see you in the place of, my wife starving,” he concluded. Mr. Holloway was asked to leave tile room and complied. Mr. Pierson said they had a suggestion to place before the committee. They desired an increase in the grant, which was considered insufficient. When a man was out of work he lost condition, as be did not have the money to buy proper food. All those present had been in the country looking for work wherever they went. They met others on the same quest as themselves. “It is harder looking for work than working,” he added. Mrs. Herbert: It has been stated that the men have to work before receiving the food. That is not correct. The food is given first, after which some of the men don’t work for it. Ten of the men who have applied today have not yet done their work. Approach the Government. A suggestion from one of the committee members was that-the men band together and approach the Government, asking it to inaugurate some scheme. They knew that 12s. (id. was not enough. The matter was growing to such an extent that they did not know what to do. Mr. Pierson then thanked the cqmmittee for receiving the deputation. Subsequently the committee decided to increase the allowance given to all unemployed applicants for assistance.