THE UNEMPLOYED

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 2, 3 July 1922, Page 8

THE UNEMPLOYED

SPEECHES.IN THE POST OFFICE

/SQUARE;

A number of speeches; mostly socialistic, in theii.'theme, .were delivered in the Post Office Square to-day at a (demonstration organised by the.unemployed of the city. It is. stated that the. unemployed have a 1 programme by which they desire to impress upon the Government, the City Council, and the people generally, the serious plight in which a large number of mer now find themselves. The unemployed dc not seem to b< organised, and an attempt may be made to rectify that in order that some definite action might be possible. Later a deputation may wait on members of the Government. The speakers in the Square to-day did not mince matters when they referred to tho seriousness of the unemployed question. They severely criticised the Government, the "master class," and the press—the latter for acting "at the dictation" of the two. ■first-mentioned. Ono speaker said that the unemployed themselves were far' too' apathetic, or they would not take so kindly to the introduction of such a large number of immigrants who were coming, to the detriment of those already settled in j the country. Those in employment were | urged to assist, the unemployed, as "every unemployed man is a menace to those who are, toiling." Mr. Jones suggested that a remedy for unemployment was shorter hours— without a " reduction in wages—instead of the longer hours to which employers thought the workers should submit. He also suggested* that labour-saving machinery was throwing hundreds of men on the scrap heap. ■ Mr. T. Glover (president of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation) said that throughout the country unem-; ployment was causing a great deal of distress. There were dozens'of men and women and children in Wellington alone who^had not' had a square meal for weeks. Only those who were seeking work seemed to realise the serious state of affairs existing to-day, and it was. for the unemployed to organise and see that they were given the right 'to work.

The demonstration continued for two hours, and there were over 500 people present. throughout. ; r