STATE OF SIEGE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 38, 13 August 1930, Page 13

STATE OF SIEGE

UNEMPLOYED ATTACK

PICKETS AT PAKLIAMENT HOUSE

LOOKING FOR MR. FORBES

Parliament House was placed in. a state of semi-siege to-day by a party of unemployed who sought an interview with the Primo Mm■- ■ ister. The deputation arrived at the building at about 11 a.m. and thronged the Bowen street entrance vestibule while their request for an audience was conveyed to - Mr. 'Forbes.It happened that the Prime Minister was engaged all the morning with a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee of the House, but Mr. E. Semple, Labour member for Wellington East, made an appointment for the deputation to return at lunch time on Friday. This was communicated to the waiting men, together with an expression of regret from the Prime Minister that be ■would not be able to see them until Friday. Tho deputation immediately resolved itself into a meeting. One of, their number addressing the gathering as "comrades," moved that they refute the right of Mr. Semplo to make any arrangement for them to meet the Primo Minister, and this was seconded and declared carried unanimously. ■■.-■■ .-,-,,, Tho seconder than reminded the "comrades" that they had previously decided not to leave tho building until they had seen Mr. Forbes. "It is up to every man to show his pluck ■ and manliness and stand here until we do see him," he declared. The meeting silently aequiescod, ana ■watched over by a small party of police, they settled aown to wait, being addressed meanwhile at intervals by one or two speakers who appeared to be the leaders of the deputation. THE BTTTLDING PICKETED. About 1 o'clock the meeting of unem-' ployed passed a motion in favour ot picketing the building in the hope that they would be able to intercept the Prime Minister, who, it was stated, was attending a meeting in the city. Pickets were appointed, but it later transpired that Mr. Forbes had not lelt Parliament House. About 1.30 p.m. several members ot the Labour Party approached the delegation ana endeavoured to secure from them a statement that they wero willm<f to participate in the unemployed deputation which was arranged to meet tho Prime Minister on Friday. This the unemployed declined to do, the objection being that the deputation baa been arranged by organised Labour, which, it was held, had done nothing to assist those who were in need ° The* member for Manukan (Mr. W. ■j Jordan) pointed out to the delegation that every day since the session had opened members of the Labour Party had impressed on members of Parliament tho need for action in regard to the unemployment problem. As Mr. Jordan proceeded to inform the. delegation that a deputation had been, arranged for Friday, several members of the deputation took him and the Labour Party to task for not;hav- ■ ing anything in ;the -interests of the unemployed. They alleged that men, women, and children were starving, and that the delegation had no- hope of obtaining any Tedress as a result 6i the deputation • --iday. ANNOUNCEMENT JEERED. Mr. Semple endeavo. -red to explain • that' the "Prime Minister; was fully booked up until Friday morning and was unable to mcet'any deputation, but this announcement was received with considerable jeering from those present. It was alleged by several speakers that the Labour Party had done absolutely nothing to assist those who were out of work. One or, two sp akers said they had approached the Charitable Aid Board and had been declined assistance.

The Labour"member for Napier (Mr. W. E. Barnard) asked the members of the delegation whether they would be prepared to participate in the deputation on Friday, and the reply to this was that they were tired of taking part in Labour deputations. "We have n.o voice in. such matters," said one member. "Everything is left to the representatives of the Labour Party." Mr. Jordan endeavoured to point out that the only way to approach the Prime Minister was through organised Labour channels, but members of the deputation dissented from this, and asked Mr. Jordan if ho would be prepared to share his food with those who were starving.' ' .'

■ Mr, Seinple said that.throughout his political career he had spoken for the unemployed, but he did not repressnt the members of the present deputation,. and if he ever did so-he would resign from public life. This announcement was greeted with jeers from the members'of the deputation.

After some further discussion, the members of the delegation agreed to state their case to Mr. F. Langstone, the Labour member for Waimarino, and Mr. J. T. Hogan, the Independent member for Bangitikei.

The discussion was proceeding when "The Post" went to press.