DECLARED BLACK

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 148, 26 June 1933, Page 10

DECLARED BLACK

RIVER DIVERSION WORK

UNEMPLOYED ON STRIKE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

HASTINGS, This Day

' Owing to disapproval of the Hawke 's Bay Rivers Board's decision to carry out preliminary work in connection with the river diversion scheme with unemployed labour, Hastings, Napier, Taradale, and Clive unemployed decided this morning to call a general strike. It is probable that the unemployed of Waipukur.au arid Waipawa, who are affiliated with the local men as a Hawke's Bay branch of the- newly-formed national organisation, will also join in tho strike.

Pickets were put on Rivers- Board jobs this morning, and all Rivers' Board work declared black. Tho men made the request this morning that those allocated to Rivers' Board jobs should bo given other work. The decision to call a. general strike followed* upon the refusal to consider that request.

The men's contention is that as the Rivers- Board's scheme is essential work)' the men employed on it should be paid award wages and given full time.

Mr; Chris. Lassen, on behalf of the Rivers • Board, explained at a meeting of the men this morning that the Government granted only £1000 for preliminary work, and that the Rivers' Board has no money to enable it to accede to the men's request.

Negotiations are now proceeding. In the meantime, all relief work in the Hastings-Napier district has ceased, probably two thousand men being involved.