COST OF LIVING PROTEST

Evening Star, Issue 17313, 29 March 1920, Page 7

COST OF LIVING PROTEST

«_ . WANGANUI DEMONSTRATION. i A big demonstration in protest against the Cost of Living and profiteering was held at Wanganui yesterday afternoon. It was attended by about 4,000 people, representative of all walks of life in the town. The proceedings were most orderly and were marked by earnestness. Speeches were delivered by Mr Veitch, M.P., Mr Foster (representing the railwayman and the returned soldiers), and the Revs. Blamires and Jenkins. A resolution was unanimously carried protesting against the increased Cost of Living, and demanding that the Government should take adequate measures at the earliest moment to give relief to the people by preventing profiteering. THE TUNNEL STRIKE. - In connection with the Huarau tunnel strike, advice from P&paroa states that the men have rejected the department's offer of an increase of Is per day. The chief engineer and his assistant are visiting the works. » POST AND TELEGRAPH DEMAND. At the annual meeting of the Manawatu section of the P. and T. Association, held at Palmerston North on Saturday night, the followin" motion was carried :. —" That this meeting; of the Manawatu section of the P. and T. Association unanimously demand that the overdue war bonus be immediately paid; also that the Chief Postmasters report thereon be made public at once." TRAM SERVICE SUSPENDED. As a result of a dispute regarding the dismissal of two employees the Auckland l tram service was suspended for some hours on Saturday nisht. The trams ran yesterdav, and a" conference between the parties sat all day with a view to effecting a settlement. LYTTELTQN WATERSIDE-RS. [Special to the ' Star.'] CHRISTCHURCH, March 29. A stop-work meeting of the Lyttclton waterside workers will be held to-morrow, when the question of the new agreement as the outcome of the recent conference at Wellington will be -onsidered. Although no official confirmation is obtainable," it is understood that the men will receive an offer embodying an increase of 5d an hour for ordinary time, 5d extra for overtime, 9d extra for work on Saturday afternoons, and also 6d extra for handling coal, bringing the pay for that class of work up to 2s 6d an hour. _ It is considered likely that th-3 rates will be accepted by the Lyttclton Union.