MARCHES ON LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1936, Page 11

MARCHES ON LONDON

THREE IN A WEEK

UNEMPLOYED AND THE BLIND

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON,. November 11. Since Parliament was opened by the King a week ago three "marches" have been made on London by men—and women—from all over the country. Their objective has been to attract public attention to their cause, and to secure some , measure of Government assistance.. . - r . .

The Jarrow iriarchers, 200 strong, Were thti first to arrive after plodding 300 miles.' They, brought with them a petition, which was presented in the House of Commons ■ by. Miss Ellen Wilkinsbn, M.P. for Jarrow, and their plea was "Work for Jarrow." Once a busy shipbuilding town, Jarrow now lies idle. Rationalisation of the industry: has meant the placing of orders elsewhere,'and much unemployment has resulted. Many of the marchers had not worked for years.

The petition was received quietly, and a few speeches were made, but no action has yet been taken by the Government. The men, who aroused wide sympathy and for whom substantial: funds were'raised, were taken back to Jarrow by'train. They" were all fitter 'than they had. been for years, due to the exercise and good food they1' received .on the march. ~.

Two' hundred blind marchers—walking along the highways three abreast, tapping their white sticks —also arrived in London from all parts of the country. Their, request was that local authorities should give them work or relief pay, and they asked for a Gov-: erliment Bill \d include an amendment j for that; purpose. TWO THOUSAND UNEMPLOYED. The biggest march was of 2000 unemployed from all parts of England, Scotland, and -. Wales. They entered London in all directions,.ana onei contingent \ was ■ comprised solely of 35 women,' two of. them grandmothers.; Their grievance was that the Government had taken no effective action in dealing with unemployment and poverty. The marchers gathered on a Sunday in Hyde Park, and were welcomed by a crowd of 150,000. Socialist, Independent Labour. Party, and Communist speakers addressed the crowd in- the park; Among them was. Mr. C. R. Attlee,. Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Attlee's.platform• was surrounded by red flags, including that of the Communist Party. " ; ;

Cabinet opinion, of these marches was expressed during the middle of October in an official announcement. This said: "Ministers have had under considerati«ft*the fact that a number of marches on London are in progress or in contemplation. In the opinion of H.M. Government such marches can do no good to the causes for which they are represented to be, undertaken, are liable to cause unnecessary hardship to those taking part in them, and are altogether undesirable. In this country; governed by a Parliamentary system, '. where every adult has a vote and. every area has its representative in the House of Commons to put forward . grievances and suggest remedies, processions to London cannot claim to have any constitutional influence on policy. .Ministers have, therefore, decided that encouragement cannot be given to such marches, whatever their particular purpose, and Ministers cannot consent to receive any deputation of marchers, although, of course, they are always prepared to meet members of Parliament." . ___^__