RELIEF WORKERS’ UNREST

Evening Star, Issue 21077, 14 April 1932, Page 11

RELIEF WORKERS’ UNREST

LITTLE TROUBLE TO-DAY MR HUNTER SURRENDERS HIMSELF \ A minor demonstration outside the Town Hall was the only evidence this morning of the demonstrative restlessness of a section of the relief workers that has been manifest during the past five or six days, but this was quickly quelled by a small party of police, who shifted the demonstrators from the vicinity of the building. The relief depot in St. Andrew street was closed this morning, and few were seen about that locality. It was reported that a certain, amount of picketing was going fm this morning with the idea of preventing men from starting under No. 5 scheme, hut inquiry at the police station revealed the fact that all the gangs were working at practically full strength. None of the men had met with interference, and .the police were keeping in touch with the various gangs throughout the day. This morning Mr L. Hunter, who had been prominent in the demonstrations of the past few days, surrendered himself to the police, appeared before the magistrate, and was remanded in custody to appear on Wednesday next with the six others who were similarly charged yesterday. Arrangements have been made, in response to requests from large numbers of relief workers who are anxious to continue working, to commence a secret ballot to-morrow among all tho men working on No. 5 scheme. The form of the ballot paper is as follows : RELIEF WORKS UNDER No. 5 SCHEME. Workers on the above works are invited to vote on the question of working or otherwise. if you FAVOUR working write YES on line below. If you are AGAINST working write NO on line below. OUTSIDE THE TOWN HALL DISPERSED BY POLICE At 11 o’clock there was a gathering of about a hundred demonstrators, .with a number of women in the van on tho footpath in front of tho Town Hall. Standing quietly close together, they sang the ‘ Red Flag ’ and other choruses till half a dozen policemen cleared the footpath. The crowd, increased in size by a number of curious onlookers, remained on the road against the edge of the footpath. Then another squad of police arrived, and the demonstrators and others were shifted across tho road to tho footpath on tho reserve side of tho Octagon opposite the Town Hall. Gradually those assembled dispersed, and at noon there were only a few groups about the

various corners, discussing the situation among themselves, while the police still stood on guard. SECRET BALLDT STRIKE QUESTION TO BE DECIDED THROUGH POLL In response to requests from large numbers of relief workers who are anxious to continue working, the mayor (Mr R. S. Black) has made arrangements for taking a secret ballot on the question. The representations made to the mayor indicate that a large proportion of the men desire to be left alone and enabled to earn at least some means to support themselves and their families. The ballot will take place to-morrow. All men allotted to groups fm; that day are therefore asked to attend at their respective localities to-morrow at 8 a.m. A ballot paper will be available from the gangqr in charge, and the men can record their decision. As only a section of the men will be grouped for work on Friday other ballots for those working or grouped to jobs for Monday or Tuesday will be arranged for if found necessary. It is alleged by a relief worker that one of the strike leaders employed trickery in persuading groups to cense work. Ho states that this leader canvassed the working groups yesterday, and told the members of each group that they were the only ones who were working, with the result that a good number of men laid down their tools. Another bait held out was that all the food that was wanted could be obtained at the St. Andrew street depot, but when both these statements were proved to be incorrect, and the men who had been deluded found that they bad lost half a day or a whole day’s work, they expressed themselves in unmistakable terms on the subject of the strike leaders. They had had no intention of striking, and were brought out solely by trickery. WORKS DEPARTMENT TIME LOST DUE TO WET WEATHER Men in the following groups who lost timo on Monday, April 11, due to wet weather, will be permitted to work off time so lost by reporting at the following locations on Friday, April 15, at 8 a.m.:—Group 1. Pine Hill road, at Gladstone road; 25, Kaikorai Valley road, at Fraser’s road; 27, Queen’s Drive, at Russell street; 55, Queen’s Drive, at City road; 29, Sea View terrace, at Ravenswood road; 51, Sea View terrace, at Ravenswood road; CO, Sea View terrace, at Ravenswood road. Notice will be issued to-morrow regarding further groups who lost time on Monday, April 11, duo to wet weather. Otago Education Board. —8 a.m., at Ford’s byre: Group 24. WORK AT TAIERI Members of group 210 (Taieri River Trust) are notified that for work on Saturday, April IC, they will leave from the old Grand Picture Theatre by D.C.C. bus at 7.15 a.m., and from other places arranged.

GOVERNMENTS PUNS M FINALITY YESTERDAY On Monday the mayor (Mr R. S. Black) announced to a hostile crowd that he would communicate with the Government and the Hospital Board respecting unemployment relief, and he invited the unemployed to return at 2 p.m., by which time he expected to have received replies fi’om the bodies mentioned. At 2 p.m., when the crowd returned, Mr Black announced that the Government’s plans would be made made public on Wednesday. Mr M. Silverstone, representing the Otago Labour Representation Committee, at once informed Mr F. Jones, M.P., of the mayor’s announcement, and late last evening Mr Silverstone received the following telegram from Mr Jones in reply:— ‘ Understand that Government has not promised to make an announcement in respect to unemployed to-day. Have asked Minister to wire the Hospital Board requesting them to provide relief pending action by the Government. Matter under consideration. —Jones.’’ CITIZENS ROUSED MAYOR CONVERSES WITH PRIME MINISTER The mayor (Mr R. S. Black) has beep waited upon by deputations from various members of the business community, who are greatly incensed at the attitude of certain irresponsible individuals among the unemployed. In the course of one of the discussions, the suggestion was made that steps be taken to drive the Communistic element out of the city altogether. It is recognised that the majority of the unemployed are honest workers who wish to earn money to keep their homes going. The mayor said this morning that during telephonic communication with the Prime Minister last night, he had stressed the urgent need for the abolition of the " stand-down ” week, as he was very anxious that the people should bo able to earn sufficient money to keep them. For months His Worship has been endeavouring to get the Government to move in this direction and his actions must surely be appreciated by the unemployed. SPECTATORS-KEEP AWAY. As regards the gatherings of unemployed about town, it should be pointed out to tho general public that, if they become spectators at any demonstration that may arise, their presence is not only a hindrance to those whoso duty it is to maintain law and order, but also it has the effect of giving the demonstrators the idea that their ranks are greater than they really are. In the future people in the streets should let their good citizenship override their curiosity. FUTILITY OF STRIKE. The relief workers should know by now how unfair it is that the picketing of tho work should be allowed to continue when the strikers responsible for the persuasion or intimidation are mainly composed of single men who, having refused work in the camps, are not getting employment in any case. Their ranks, moreover, are swollen by

meu cmstand down ” week, who also are in the happy position of having their little bit of" excitement without risk of loss. Summed up, the strike is a cruel, selfish affair which has been doomed to futility from the start. SINGLE MEN. The position as regards single men is that no single man who has refused work in the camps will be regrouped into city work. Exceptions are made only under'very special circumstances, such as those that may be detailed on a medical certificate. These workers, however, are still eligible for employment under scheme 4a. Only single men who have never been offered work in the camps are at present eligible for town employment under scheme No. 5. Thus, newly registered men are being grouped, but those who actually refused a place in the camps are being turned down. GOLD WASHING. Last evening Mr T. E. lloche, the popular and capable miner who has been giving a series of demonstrations of gold washing, instructed an interested gathering at Macandrew Bay in the art of cradling, panning, and sluicing. At 3 p.m. on Saturday Mr Roche will again give a demonstration in St. Andrew street. WORKER’S BICYCLE STOLEN. If the person who took a bicycle from outside a building in Princes street south realises that the machine was the property of a relief worker who relies on .it to take him from Tomahawk to the scene of his labours, he will probably be good enough either to return it to the place from which it was removed or arrange to have it left outside Mr Rigby’s store, Tomahawk. Attached to the bicycle was a sugar bag containing supplies of food which the worker was taking home from the depot. MAYOR’S RELIEF FUND. “ Another Sympathiser ” has forwarded £1 towards the mayor’s relief of distress fund. The writer states that ho is one who has no intention of allowing the demonstrators to harm the city to which he belongs. AN AUCKLAND DEMONSTRATION BATONS DRAWN [Peb United Press Association,] AUCKLAND, April 13. By far the largest demonstration of unemployed since the beginning of the present depression, took place in Auckland to-day, when a largo number of men marched through the city to the Town Hall as a protest against the present conditions’ of relief work, and particularly against the country camps. They presented a set of demands to the mayor, who briefly addressed the crowd of demonstrators and others, numbering several thousand, and undertook to forward the demands to the Minister in Charge of Unemployment (Air Coates). The demonstrators then continued their inarch through tho streets in a procession fully a quarter of a mile Jong. In Shortland street a clash with tho police occurred when some of those near the head of the procession considered that the driver of a motor lorry was trying to break through their line of march. A handful of constables drew’ their batons, and there was a lively melee for a few- seconds until a number of the leaders mounted the lorry, ami by loudly exhorting theu;

followers, prevailed upon them to resume their march. So far as could be ascertained, there were no injuries except, doubtless, some bruises. A second meeting w’as held outside the Town Hall, and after* being informed that their demands had been telegraphed to Wellington, and that a reply was being aw’aited, the _ men obeyed their leaders’ orders to disperse until to-morrow morning, when, they were directed to demonstrate in their own districts. Later a telegram was received by tho mayor from Mr Coates to the effect that the Government and the Unemployment Board were finalising the revised arrangements for relief, and that while reasonable suggestions would be considered, the present claims w r ere extravagant, and could not be entertained.

AUCKLAND STRIKE CONTINUES

[Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, April 14. The relief workers’ strike, launched yesterday, was continued to-day. As far as is ascertainable, tho position is unaltered, and approximately the same number of men are idle. There was no combined demonstration to-day.