UNEMPLOYMENT’

Evening Star, Issue 21005, 20 January 1932, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT’

PROTESTS AGAINST PUNISHMENTS MEETING IN QUEEN'S GARDENS Resentment at the sentences passed by the magistrate on the five loaders of tho food demonstration was strongly expressed by a small army of speakers at a meeting of unemployed in the Queen’s Gardens last evening. While all the speechmakcrs were sympathetic with the incarcerated men, quite a number in the big audience held a different view.

During the meeting the announcement was made that Messrs J. W. Munro, M.P.. and F. Jones, M.P., had sent the following telegram to the Hon. Mr Cobbe (Minister of Justice) “ The disturbance in Dunedin on January 9 was due to the men being driven desperate_ by the suffering and privation of their wives and families. Consider sentences unduly _ harsh and severe, especially in relation to E. Braithwaite. Could you see your way to review sentences by remission or reduction?” Without any explanations being made by the proposer of the motion, the ‘ Evening Star ’ was declared “ black,” and the same stigma was placed upon the ‘ Otago Daily Times ’ without demur when its name was mentioned by a man at the back of the crowd. Because it was reported that the daughter of an imprisoned man had been subjected to many insults during the past week at the tea rooms in George street in which she was working, the restaurant was also added to the black list, the proposer holding that no innocent person should he victimised. While the meeting was really one of protest against the sentences imposed on Braithwaite and his companions, tho more proficient speakers adumbrated on the subject of economics and indulged in effective methods of political electioneering. • On the announcement being mado that Messrs Jones and Munro were sending a telegram to Wellington a man asked: “ Why not approach the other members of Parliament? The Chairman replied that if the other M.P.s were interested they would have attended the meeting. . Mr Brian O’Donnell said every fairminded citizen should sign the petition asking for tho release of the men inenreerated in prison. The men had fought for bread in a land where the baskets were overflowing. They had fought as men should fight. They had led the way. Perhaps it might not have been in the constitutional way, hut to their knowledge .they were doing something to ameliorate the conditions of the people suffering from starvation. In their hearts and souls was feeling for the hungry women and children; it was their way of helping mankind and Christianity. He was sorry that they had received such very hard and very harsh sentences, particularly on men who had carried the rifle for the freedom of the Empire. They wore asking that the sentences should bo removed, because they 7 ■ believed in their hearts that the men did not want to break down the city or damage the property of citizens. The men had asked for bread. They wanted to do something, not for themselves, but for the benefit of the unemployed. (“ Hear, hear ” and applause.) They had been looked upon as tho leaders. Perhaps some of the audience did not believe in direct action; personally he believed not in breaking down, but in building up in a constitutional and democratic way. Although sentenced to prison, the men believed in their minds they had done something for the Unemployed. Perhaps Mr H. _W. Bundle, S.M., in giving his decision thought ho was doing right, but he could have taken a more lenient view. Mr John Gilchrist also entered his protest against what.he considered to be altogether too severe sentences. The warehouses were crammed from the basements to tho ceilings with goods that made homes worth living in, yet in Dunedin hundreds of homes were in a disgraceful condition. No particular section of the community could be blamed. The working people had the power to improve conditions. A Voice: But not the brains. Mr Gilchrist: Perhaps not, but that is the pity. He proceeded to speak of now celebrated agitators for freedom of speech and female suffrage, and the honour in which their names were held. A young man, who spoke for five minutes, declared the magisterial decisions to be “ class sentences,” and that the men had been sent to “ fourth class gaols.” , Collections were taken up in aid of the families of the imprisoned men, and promises of assistance were announced. location of groups Working under No. 5 scheme, men will report for work to-morrow as under : St. Hilda Borough Council—7.4s a.m., at Scott street yard, groups 208, 21 Otago Education Board.—B a.m., at Ford’s byre, Pino Hill, groups 25, 27, 29. 35, 39, 53. „ • A Defence Department.—B a.m., at Central Battery, St. Hilda, those men of group 8 who did not work in the earlier part of the week. D.C.C. Tramways Department.—B a.m., at tramways yard, Anderson s Bay road, group 28. Reserves Department. —8 a.m., at Knox street, Opoho, group 506. Works Department—To commence 8 a.m. to-morrow —1, Pii-o Hill road, at Orbell street; 2, Gardner street, at Elgin road; 3, Uxbridge street, quarter of a mile above Normanhy; 4, Queen’s drive, at Russell street; 5, Woodhaugh street, at quarry; 6, Cavell street and Lochencl street, Taimii; 7, Sligo terrace, at Erin street; 10, Paterson’s homestead, Blackhead road, Taieri County; 13, Woodhaugh street, 'at quarry; 14, Norwood street, three-quar-ters of a mile above tram terminus; 15, Queen’s drive, at Russell street; 16, North road, half a mile below Cleghorn street; 19, Alva street (Stafford street, at William street); 18, Pine Hill road, near Pine Hill School; 22, Stone street, at quarry; 36, North Taieri road, at Flagstaff road, Taieri County; 46, Hadfield street, off Opoho road; 51, Wharf street, at French street; 55, Queen’s drive, at Russell street. Group 210 (Taieri River Trust).— Men in this group will leave from old Grand Picture Theatre by corporation bus at 7.15 a.m. or Caversham tram terminus at 7.20 a.m. HOSPITAL BOARD RELIEF Heavy demands are still being made on the local relief depots, and the Hospital Board’s organisation in Dowling street experienced a very busy day yesterday. Orders ranging in value from 7s 6d to £1 were issued to 101 married men and thirty single men. The depot is in need of men’s clothing, such as trousers and boots, and would lie grateful for further supplies of vegetables to meet immediate needs.

The following donations are acknowledged:—Mrs Beattie (St. _ Kilda), groceries; per Mayoq of Mosgiel, vegetables; a Friend, peas; W. Wright and Co., bread; E.V.M., shoes; Stewart, fish; a Friend, shoes; a Friend, clothing; S. A. Stevens (Clyde), fruit; Mr Armour, groceries; employees A 1 Cash Butchery, large quantity of,sausages; A. Steans (Tapanui), vegetables; Wootton and Co., Rattray street, bread.

CITIZENS' DEPOT Stocks were so short at the Central Mission Depot yesterday that it was necessary to close at 1.30 and post the following notice: “ The staff regret that there are only sufficient supplies to serve those already in the right-of-way.” Many scores of applicants had to go away disappointed. Strenuous efforts are being made to obtain goods for distribution to-day. It has been decided that distributino shall be made only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and from next week the hours will be from 9.30 to 12.30 on these three days. ' The depot is open continuously to receive donations. Donations as under are thankfully acknowledged:—Mrs John Hamer, £2; Anonymous, £1; C. Soumaras (Empire Cafe), 300 meals; Ernest Adams, cakes and sugar: Searle, pies; Dukes’, meat; Mr J. Coburn, one sheep; Dr F., 24 loaves; Jackson .(Outram), vegetables; a Friend, groceries and vegetables; Cooperative Dairy Company and Taieri and Peninsula, butter; Cadbury, Fry, Hudson, sugar. Donations will be sent for on ringing telephone number 18-. §44. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Citizens’ Relief Committee was held in Slade Hall yesterday afternoon, and was attended by the Revs. P. Paris and W. D. More, Mr H. H. Johnson, the depot staff, and representatives of the Unemployment Committee. Mr Fred Jones, M.P., was also present. The depot supervisor (Mr J, H. Hinton) reported that, owing to the imprisonment of Mr Braithwaite, the depot was without an outside organiser, and that the voluntary donations were utterly inadequate to run the depot. He stressed the necessity for adequate and continuous supplies. The need was imperative, and the danger of supplying early Homers and nothing being left for later ones led to jealousy and dissatisfaction. He also suggested that while supplies were restricted those not in urgent need might give place to those that were. The enlargement of the committee and more intensive organisation were also strongly urged. . Mr George Wright was appointed temporary outside organiser, and _it was resolved to ask the City Council s permission to take up a street collection on Friday next. BENEFIT DANCE The Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association is < holding an open air dance at the boat harbour to-night, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the purchase of supplies for the Hospital Board’s depot. RAILWAY SERVANTS' VIEWS “At the last monthly meeting of the Otago branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants the problem of unemployment was freely disI cussed. Hearty sympathy was expressed towards the large number of persons who are out of employment and in such dire distress at the present time. It was the opinion of the meeting that it 'was high time the Government stopped ‘ tinkering ’ with this problem and made some attempt to get at the root of the trouble. The i meeting believed that if the problepi j were handled in a statesmanlike manner a solution of the difficulty could be found. It urged that the Government should tackle the pro- ; blem with vision immediately, so that j the present stain on our lair land 1 might be removed at the earliest possible moment.”