NOISY RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 13

NOISY RECEPTION

MINISTER AT AUCKLAND

HON/W. A. VEITCH HECKLED

MEETING WITH UNEM-

PLOYED

There were lively scenes when the Minister of Bailways (the Hon. W. A. Veitch) addresfeed a deputation of the Auckland unemployed at the Central Hotel yesterday. . : , The. deputation was arranged at short notice, and about 1000 men with ban- ' ners flying marched to. the front door of the hotel. Two members of the deputation saw the Minister, who decided to address the nien from the front steps, says the "Auckland Star." He was greeted with derisive cheers. r- Mr. Veitch opened by saying that his sympathies were wholly with the unemployed workers of Auckland, whore the position appeared to be worse than anywhere else in Ne%v Zealand. Ho said that they were all good, citizens of New Zealand, and he was sure . ■A voice: "Cut allthat stuff out. v We 'don't want any of that. Give us something constructive." ' Another voice: "What about the refusal of the Government to accept the offer of the Farmers' Union to supply mutton to the various towns!" Chorus of voices: "Yes, anewpr that'" Mr. Veitch said that the Government had bought a quantity of sheep when pricos were low, and the mutton was now stored ready for dispersal j.o needj persons. '■ A voice: "All very fine! Who is going to pay for it? We have no money." f 'EVERY AVAILABLE SHILLING; '' Mr. Vertch: "You will not be asked to pay for it. Every available shilling in the Treasury will be used for the relief of the presont situation. I have promised to wire ." ' - A voice from the outskirts of the crowd: "What are you going to do about rents and evictions?'' . , ; :Mr. Yeitch: "We will go' into, that." Another voice: "The usual, inevitable answer. The Government ," . An interjoetor: "The time has come •when we, the workers, are going; to '■i expose you, the Government. Whenever you're asked to meet a situation in plain. English, you always say, 'We ■will go into it,' and talk about waiting. ■Whatever the unemployed may Jo in the future will be the responsibility of the Government. ,The unemployed of thl3 country are coming into their own, and we-will hold the Government responsible.? 5 ■ ;'. ■ ' ' ■ A woman: "It's all very well for you to stand on\ the steps there in your flno iclothes and talk. There is foocl,in your louse. But me—my husband is "out of work, and I have nothing to clothe us. ;:We have nothing to pat on tho table. We have no money for gas. What are you going to do about that?" - ' . \" . "WE WANT FACTS." ! Mr. "Veitch" said he thought ho could state: the attitude and the position of the Government. He realised, as one who had himself worked in the ranks 7'bf "the -labourers, what it meant to bo out of a job. He had every sympathy •with them." (Sustained, derisive laughter and cheers.) ' Another voice: "We want.facts. We want a statement of remedies.: We.know all that. Have you anything to tell us?" .'■' " .■ " " :■ ' The Minister: "Believe me, I am not /angry.- I realise the position. I-—-." 4 'J M,any voices: "And neither are we. .'And, of course, you aren't. You've got no reason to be.' You speak for the capitalist class. For the rich, not for vUS." . •:-■■ . , . . ■■ .-.- ■': .';■ Another interjector: "There is no It is.'a matter of a fault in ''VytfHe '.!''■ Capitalism' against Lab- " our.". . -..' . ■'.'.. . . , .. ; .".Another man then, put a question to . the crowd. "Do you believe in the Government? Do you trust the Government at all1? Signify in the usual way." ?'Therel was a volley of ''Noes." .''Mr. Vc'itch: "I did not.come down here to discuss the economic system. I -told, your representatives I was perfectly willing to meet you, and I am still, but this gets vs1: nowhere. Will you - give ." - ' . \ , : ii, .NO CONFIDENCE. ' '' . Another voice: "Will the Unemployment Board bo paid £750 after the: No. , rs.scheme ceases?" ■• / -"- Mr. Veitch: "They are'- not paid ■ £750. As a matter of fact .".. i■; '.*' Will you giyo ( ÜB ; y.our assurance that you will do your best to .restore the No. 5 scheme^ or something Similar?'':; ■ •••■ . ■■ ■' .■■/■ Mr. Veitch: "Absolutely." One of the crowd then put another > ''motion to the,meeting, that the United Government'had'failed to .carry out its "contract. The .verdict was again unanimous;. .:■/.. i- • Afresh speaker':," Will you stand -;there and tell us that the Government has not failed? Will you say to us that "you have not lied to us?" " The Minister: "I was promised by 'your representative that I would re- ' ceive a fair hearing.- I will riot be called a liar." " '. COAL IMPORTS. Another person raised the subject of the West Coast collieries. The crowd. ■ cheered; him when he proclaimed, that , there was something behind the action '/of the Government in ordering coal ' from abroad, when the mines in the district were run by the Government. ' "You thought that there would be a strike, "ho challenged the Minister. t . ' "There was no thought of that," Mr. Veitch replied. The crowd laughed. f.'Welly I understand that tho chairman has declared the meeting closed," said Mr. Veitch, amidst cat-calls. "You are the judges, and you arc entitled to be the judges." Tho crowd (as one man): "We will "■be." ' ' . ■ DISTRESS PRESSING; Mr. Veitch subsequently sent the following telegram to the Prime Minis- ■*' ter :"I met largo number of unernploy- - ed at Auckland this morning. There are definite indications that unemployment distress is pressing and calls for immediate remedial measures. I promised the deputation that I would communicate .with you urging immediate action to provide temporary relief pending de- -- cision of Parliament on the whole question of unemployment. I propose this ,i afternoon to get into touch with the Hospital Board authorities with a view ..'. to arriving at a-definite arrangement for prompt relief, and will communicate with you later in the day in,, this regard. - ■'. I understand certain surplus produce is available from Waikato district, and that freeiail conveyance is desired. I ' would recommend that you authorise Bailway Board to grant free transport of this produce for relief purposes if not , already done." j