RELIEF WORKERS' REQUESTS

Evening Star, Issue 21072, 8 April 1932, Page 11

RELIEF WORKERS' REQUESTS

DEPUTATION TO LOCAL COMMITTEE CROWD ASSEMBLES OUTSIDE TOWN HALL Doubt as to whether or not their representatives would be received by the Unemployment Committee was given by the unemployed this morning as the main reason for the gathering of relief workers in front of the Town Hall shortly before 10 o’clock. When Sergeant O’Shea had interviewed the committee and returned with the information that speakers would be heard, Messrs L. Hunter, E. V. Cuff, and H. Smith came forward as a deputation and placed the workers’ complaints before the members. The business, which had been the subject of a preliminary letter to the committee, dated April 5, involved the following matters:—(l) Question of wet weather. Any men going on jobs desired to be allowed two hours for standing by. (2) If any relief worker had to attend the hospital as an out patient it was asked that he should be paid for the time he had lost in going there instead of having tbr.t time deducted or being requested to make it up later. (3) When there had been any extra time going lately groups 13(J and 138 had been standing down, and it was considered unfair. (4) It was asked if the Unemployment Committee had any jurisdiction over the mayor’s depot, (o) If the committee would endeavour to regroup single men, as work at Deep Stream was now almost at an end. (C) The Unemployed Workers’ Movement once again asked for representation on the Unemployment Committee. It was stated in the letter that if this request was refused the unemployed were going to have a demonstration every week at the Town Hall. COMMITTEE’S REPLY. In a letter dated April 7 the Unemployment Committee replied as follow in answer to each subject:—(l) The rules of the Unemployment Board do not make any provision for “ standingby ” time in wet weather. It appears, however, that in wet weather the question of whether work will be carried on or not is to a large extent decided by the men themselves. (2) No provision is made in the rules laid down by the Unemployment Board to cover the point about hospital out-patients, and the suggestion is in opposition to the general rule for payment only for time worked. (3) The matter of extra time has already been brought to notice by a deputation from your organisation. Representations have since been made to the Unemployment Board with a view to having the allocation altered so that the number of men in the receipt of relief work is the same in each week of the four-weekly cycle. Should that request be acceded to by the board there would then he no such discrimination. (4) The Unemployment Committee has no jurisdiction over the Mayor’s Relief Depot. (5) The matter of single men has already been considered by the' committee and representations on the subject have been made to the Unemployment Board. The board, however, has issued direct instructions to the Labour Department that any single man who has refused to go to camp is not io bo given further work, except in camp, or under schemes 4a or 4b. (0) J'he Unemployed Workers’ Movement has already been advised that the Unemployment Board does not approve of your organisation being represented on this committee. Moreover, this committee was consfStutcd at a public meeting called for the Regarding your threat re demonstration: This is a matter which is governed In- the by-laws of the City Council and the Police Department. THE DISCUSSION. Both in representation and reply all these matters were subjected to elaboration in the committee room. As regards the wet weather and consequent loss of time the chairman (Mr F. W. Mitchell) said that the workers could make further representations to ihc -board iq Wellington.

Mr Cuff said that very often men were sent to work a mile or more out of town, and in spite of doubt as regards the weather had to be there at a certain time. It was asked that provision should bo made for two hours’ “ standing-by ” time. Mr Mitchell: Wo are prepared to send on a request to the board in regard to this question and ask if it can see its way clear to granting it. Speaking on the extra time question, the Chairman said it would bo found that there would bo no differentiation in the future. Ho added that in regard to single workers the committee would try to get from tho board some modification of the instructions. When the question of reception of deputations was referred to, the chairman pointed out that in the past a great deal of unnecessary time had been wasted in useless discussion, and it was thought that it would bo more satisfactory _ to get the various points down in writing. Then tho way would bo cleared for any deputations it was considered necessary to receive. The committee members were doing the work in their own time and received nothing for it, and if deputations were allowed in every time the committee sat there would be scarcely anything done. Mr W. G. Kindley stated that when tho various matters were treated by correspondence there was more certainty that news of them would reach everybody. There had been at least one case in the past of a representative of the unemployed workers bringing up a matter which had been dealt with some time previously. Mr Cuff _ said that the question of representation on the committee was a very sore point. It was thought highly, desirable that unemployed men numbering something like 3,000 should have direct representation on a body whose business so intimately concerned their welfare. The matter had been submitted to the Unemployment Board in Wellington, which had replied that the question was parochial and a subject to be dealt with locally. In Christchurch, Hastings, Waimate, and other places the unemployed had such representation. Mr Mitchell: We will sec what can bo done, although we cannot hold out any hope. The committee was elected at a public meeting, and, if I am not mistaken, one of your own people at that time refused office. The Chairman went on to say that the committee was doing its very best in the interests of tho unemployed. DEMONSTRATIVE CROWD. After the deputation had withdrawn tho result of tho discussion was communicated to the crowd, which was not satisfied with the reply regarding representation on tho committee. As time went on the gathering increased in numbers to between 500 and 800 people, and much cheering and shouting was the order of the day. The ■Red Flag,’ in tho singing of which women’s voices were heard, was given several times. Finally the assemblage abandoned its policy of “passive resistance,” and decided to make representation regarding sustenance and the restoration of the Hospital Board chit system. After leaving tho Town Hall, the crowd of several hundreds marched to tho office of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, in Hanover street. A number of police had arrived in advance, and stood guard at the narrow door entrance to the building, while outside the crowd stretched across the footpath and over most of the roadway. It was discovered that tho secretary (Mr J. Jacobs) was not in, and the crowd waited for his arrival. There were many women among the demonstrators, a number having children in perambulators. Tho ' Red Flag ’ was again sung while the crowd waited. Some impatience was manifested after a wait of about half an hour, and one of the loaders voiced the opinion that, if they did not get satisfaction from the Hospital Board, they should go to the mayor’s depot and everyone get what was needed. “ Wo want money orders from tho board,” was the cry of a section, “ and we're going to get them.” The arrival of a further detachment of police caused some little excitement,

most of the crowd greeting them goodhumouredly. The footpath was then cleared, tho police ranging themselves in front of the building. After further murmurs of dissatisfaction from the crowd, it was intimated that tho board had decided to receive a deputation at 2.30, and that the demonstrators would reassemble in front of the board offices at 2 o'clock. On the advice of another of tho loaders, who advocated that no trouble should be caused, tho _ people dispersed, after intimating their willingness to attend again in the afternoon.