UNRULY OUT-OF-WORKS

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 4

UNRULY OUT-OF-WORKS

PREMIER JOSTLED AMD INTERRUPTED THE NINE SHILLINGS A DAY PRIHGIPLE [Pbh United Peess Associinos.] WELLINGTON, Juno 14, A largo deputation of unemployed which waited on the Prime Mmis.tei and the Minister of Labor to-day was certainly not on its best behaviour. Although only two members of the deputation were appointed to speak, the efforts of Mr R. M'Keen, M.P., and Mr P. Fraser, M.P., were unable to control the men or to prevent a number of them interjecting when the Minister of Labor and the Prime Minister were speaking to them. They were indignant that the wages of single.men on relief work would not _be more than 9s a day, and maintained that they could not possibly live on that sum. They refused to allow the Prime Minister to explain the position so far as it affected the Public Works Department, and his remarks that already the department was employing between 4,000 and 5,000 more men than were required was received with derision. They crowded round the Prime Minister, and when he opened Iris cigarette case in answer to a request for a cigarette they forced forwardj breaking the table at which the Minister of Labor had been sitting, forced the Premier against the wall, and knocked oyer a typist, fortunately without hurting her. The Prime Minister made it plain that the Government would not now deviate from the policy already set out. He advised the single , men to organise and work in gangs. Tho suggestion was not favorably received.