RELIEF WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 110, 11 May 1935, Page 13

RELIEF WORKERS

VISIT TO BOARD

STATEMENT ISSUED

About one hundred and fifty relief workers visited the offices of the Unemployment Board yesterday and requested the Commissioner of Unemployment to see them, but the request was refused. A meeting was held later and a deputation from the relief workers present was appointed to interview the Editor of "The Post" and make the following statement for publication:— • ■ ■■■■.•■"..

"On March 13 last'a deputation of re-, lief workers' representatives, under the leadership of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement, presented to j fifty-five members of Parliament ,a demand for a 10s weekly cash increase for all relief workers and,unemployed on sustenance. As a result of this agitation the Government agreed to devote a whole day to a discussion of the demand in-Parliament. ■ While not disagreeing .verbally with" the necessity for the increase, Parliament decided that there were insufficient funds.available and that increased taxation was not expedient. Since then the Wellington Helief Workers' Union, which is the local affiliation to the National Unemployed Workers' Movement, has been carrying on considerable agitation locally around this demand. GRANT FROM COUNCIL.

''A fortnight ago the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) agreed on th£ request of a deputation representing the Wellington relief'workers, to make available immediately the sum. of £500. (Since then the relief workers in Wellington, through their organisation, have discussed the' question of again I approaching the' Unemployment ; Board to point out.to them the immediate necessity of granting us the increase. On two .pccasions during this week we have asked the board to receive deputations. On both 'occasions the board declined, on the grounds that they have discussed this question with the unemployed before and therefore see no reason for any further discussion oh this question. '■ JA- meeting of unemployed held on Thursday night in the Trades Hall decided to elect another deputation to the Unemployment Board and the.Mayor. .The Mayor had previously replied that while he was willing to receive a further deputation, owing to pressure, of work "he was unable to meet us until Tuesday,, May 14. ', . : ■■■:.. • :

arrival at' the Unemployment Board's office yesterday, r Mr. 'CM. Brooks, secretary of the Wellington Relief Workers' Union, asked at the office if Mr. Godfrey. Commissioner of Unemployment;- could arrange to receive a deputation. ■ Mr. Godfrey contended .that ;the statements conveyed .in his letters to'our organisation was his considered/reply in the absence of the: board members. >i Not being satisfied with that the. unemployed outside.the offices, numbering;, about 150, sent a deputation,, "of,; 'three, consisting of Messrs. G. M. Brooks, J; J. Robinson, and A. Blarice, to attempt once again to persuade Mr. Godfrey to see the main deputation. Mr. Godfrey's messenger again intimated that Mr. Godfrey's decision was unaltered. ijmj^anxnmD enter offices^

"By this time; the unemployed themselves had foltowetjitheideputatipn upstairs but.; as sopri as they had congregated inside thfe offifce they were surrounded by<.poiyt&. ;;it .wasee^n byoth&, manifir ; mSy*ibtii^he. police acted iii P^9m Ptfy ; ; <>rdenngseverypne< out of the bvuldingthatthey^haareceived iristru^ tioiis to do so from the Unemploy' ment Board's office. This had; beeri done before any inquiries' had been made as tpiwhether teejdeputation wa,s raising; any. new questions -aSectirig th? unemployediwhich might-bftsettled^ by the board: To prevent any disorder, and to ensure that the unemployed did not suffer from the tactics that the police may have adopted, Mr. Brooks sent a note in; to Mr. .Qodfrey asking him" when-he'cbuld arrange'to see a deputation representing ,the unemployed.;; His official !rjsply%as that as soon as the board' members assembled in Wellington he would place our requests before them and'would send a reply to, our ; organisation. ..... ~.;■-.';

"On receipt,of this information the police, who were standing behind the members of the r deputation, immediately ordered everyone out of the building. While the deputation was fully charged with the responsibility of their mission they 'realised the futility of obstructing the police and, acting in the interests-of the Wellington unemployed, they quietly left the building. They then, w.ith the unemployed, adjourned to the headquarters ot the Wellington Belief Workers' Union at 114 Taranaki Street where the officials of the organisation placed before those present the two letters from the Unemployment Board and the two letters from the Mayor. DECISION OF MEETING.

"It was finally decided that we approach the editors of the two local ! newspapers asking them to give pubilicity to our negotiations with the Unemployment Board. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Cl M. Brooks, M. Ormerod, and.A. Blance was elected to Interview the editors of the newspapers.

i "We wish therefore to protest strongly against the action of the board in refusing to see our deputation and against their action iii requesting the police' to be present' and to use methods of -intimidation to the ionemployed who were present. It was finally decided to agree with the request of the Mayor and to send a large deputation to interview hiiri on the question of providing xnore\ relief for all unemployed. This deputation will take place at the Town Hall on Tuesday aext' at 4.30 pan."