IN THE HUTT VALLEY

Evening Post, Issue 19, 23 January 1932, Page 12

IN THE HUTT VALLEY

KO WOEK TO-DAY

THE MEN ORGANISING

The situation in regard to the unemployed in Lower Hutt remains the same as yesterday, no men at all working on any of-the regular relief works. It is stated that about 20 men approached the Lower Hutt Council yard this morning with the evident intention of seeking work, but were met by others, who persuaded them otherwise.

. -The position. in Petone is not yet clear, as normally to-day is an "off" day, as -was also yesterday. Mr. D. MeKerizie,'Mayor of Petone, states that as far as he knows Petone men. are not involved, and. as under the present circumstances men will not be asked to go to, Eastbourne, already declared ".black," he does'not anticipate any cessation of work by the Petone men. To-day is also, an "off" day on the Korokoro road job, and those in charge state that the five men who wore on that work yesterday were all that would normally be employed. A picket committee has been elected by the Lower Hutt Belief Works Committee, but it was officially stated this morning that its service ' has not been required. FURTHER MEETING TO-DAY. ; A meeting of the Lower Hutt relief ■workers was held this morning, and the following report of the proceedings has been supplied to the Press:— '".Che delegates appointed reported back to the meeting that they had attended .an executive' meeting of the "Wellington ' branch, which had agreed to recommend to a mass meeting, to be held on1 Tuesday, that all relief workers in Wellington should cease work. A delegate attended from the Eastbourne branch, and representatives from the Petone branch of the Unemployed .Workers' Movement, and in each case promised the whole-hearted support of their executive, Mr. Laidlaw, president of the Petone organisation, congratulating1 Lower Hutt on being the first in the field. • "Delegates from Eastbourne and Petone were incorporated in the Lower Hutt executive. ' Delegates were appointed to place the-Lower Hutt position beforea mass meeting of the-Wel-lington unemployed- on Tuesday night. ■A resolution was passed protesting against the, local branch of the Red Cross'selling.donated garments and demanding a. revision of its policy. < Mr.' J. Sandford,.representative of the Dominion organisation of tlie U.W.M., addressed the meeting and promised the support of his organisation throughout. • '~...: PROVISIONS AND CASH. ■ A provisions committee was set up for the purpose of collecting provisions and later reported a good response, as. did also-a cash collection committee, ■which' had, been canvassing the business people. Mr. Sergent,. who supplied this report, said that the business people had received, the collectors with sympathy. Tho sum of £4 was collected at the meeting, and was utilised for the immediate needs of necessitous cases. The offer of a conveyance for carrying provisions was accepted, as was also the offer of an empty bakehouse, the 'organisation hoping to be able to do its own baking. ' - . Mr. Sergent stated that the meeting was most: enthusiastic, and that the |>roccedings closed with the singing of the: Ked Flag. .. • The following resolution was passed at Friday's meeting, but by an oversight was not handed to the Press:— "That, this mass meeting 6f Lower Hutt relief workers strongly protests against the harsh sentences imposed on the men in the Dunedin demonstration, and calls upon the Minister of Justice, the Hon. .7. G. Cobbe, to take steps to' have them quashed."