UNEMPLOYED WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 25, 29 July 1933, Page 13

UNEMPLOYED WORKERS

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

COMMUNISTS BARREL

A meeting was held in Wellington yesterday of the following representatives of unemployed organisations in Wellington province: Mr. Donoghue (Johnsonville), Mr. H. Duley (Masterton), . Mr. C. J. Fisher (Cartertou), Mr. E. J. Currie (Peatherston), Mr. F. T. .Arkle (Martin* borough), and the secretariat, Messrs. S. F. Vella, R. Hedgland, and D. McLaughlin (of the Natioual Union of Unemployed). The above centres, affiliated to the National Union, had decided to form the Wellington Provincial Council of the N.U.U., and it was agreed at the meeting that the name be "'The Wellington Provincial Unemployed Workers' Association."

The following officers were elected (pro tern): President, Mr. H. Duley; secretary, Mr. Donoghue; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. T. Ark'le and Mr. C. J. Fisher. Mr. D. McLaughlin was elected provincial organiser.

Mr. R. Hedgland presided at the meeting, in which the following decisions were reached:—(l) That the existing national constitution be adopted at present, branches to report on this question at the next provincial conference; (2) that Communists and supporters of the Communist Party be excluded from- membership; (3) that individual- branches" -be directly responsible to the provincial council for the affiliation fee of one penny per month per member (where no district committee is established), and that Wellington be left free to institute a system deemed most suitable by branches in Wellington. '

The organiser-was instructed to seek the active assistance of the Industrial Labour Movement.

Mr. S. V. Vella (national secretary) presented his report on the recent strike crisis, which. was unanimously adopted.

The meeting condemned what was described as the Government's bankruptcy as regards an unemployment policy, also "the inertia shown by legislators in dealing wtih the acute distress prevailing everywhere in New Zealand."