BASIN RESERVE MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1932, Page 8

BASIN RESERVE MEETING

A demonstration by the Unemployed Workers' Movement at the Basin Bescrvij yesterday afternoon attracted a crowd of some 2000 people from all sections of the communit}', mostly sightseers. The grandstand was closed, and the United Workers' Movement chairman and speakers climbed tho rails to reach a point of vantage. Tho first speeches were made from the roof of the porch under the clock, but later the cx-owd was addressed from the top of the steps at the left of the stand. The chairman shortly stated the policy of the strikers that all relief jobs in New Zealand were "black," and other speakers urged that the No. 5 Scheme be dropped in favour of five days' work a week for everyone at full rates of wages, and failing that, sustenance. The Government, the Press, trade unions, and the police wore successively given a bad time by 'speakers, who spoke strongly of the existing conditions, and asked those present to support tho strike. It was stated, that when the motion to be put had been carried, committees would be sot up to see to the provisions of pickets for all relief jobs.

The mixed nature of the audience presented the chairman with a problem. It was suggested to take a vote by the show of hands, thoso who were not relief workers to abstain from voting. Eventually all those who were employed were asked to step back to tho rail. The bulk of the crowd moved back, leaving somo 200 close to the grandstand, of whom nearly all moved over to the left, signifying their support of the strike, and the motion was declared carried. The gathering lasted an hour.