INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES.

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 11

INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As ono who belongs to no unemployed organisation, but who keeps his eyes open to what is going on, may I be allowed a small space in your paper? On the ono hand we have our unemployed, who are made to line up for their rations like horses; their nosebags are filled, and away they go. It seems to me that there is something radically wrong with the mentality of people who consider the _ unemployed have no cause to complain on that score. On the other hand we know of hundreds of pounds being spent on lavish entertainment at weddings in this city, record-breaking trips in numbers of people (especially women) going over to Sydney to the opening of the bridge, and thousands of pounds literally thrown away on pleasure while at the same time decent, respectable people, many of them through no fault of their own, have to line up for rations. Then, again, we have an example of the supposed justice that prevails in our local bodies administration. The Otago Harbour Board has dispensed with the majority of its outside employees, the result being that tliero is practically no work going on of a constructive nature, except at the Heads, yet the powers that bo consider it fair and just to put off the majority of its workers and at the same time eight civil engineers (nearly all qualified) and a full office staff are still on the pay roll. It seems to, mo that this is hardly a case of equal sacrifice.

In conclusion, just a few remarks on tho police baton charge last Monday. I want to state emphatically hero that such a disgraceful exhibition of brutality on the part of a few of the police ought to be looked into by the proper .authorities. When one sees four big stalwart policemen using their batons on one poor individual half their size, who was knocked down and while lying half-unconscoius was batoned by these men it makes one’s blood boil. What is this country coming to? Here we have these things happening all around us. But, of course, only one aspect of things is mentioned in our newspapers. I if the reporters were there they did not see anything out of place, or it was a case of “ none so blind as those who will not see.”—l am, etc., Justice. April 14. [Reductions had already been made in the office staff of the Harbour Board, and the chairman recently stated that consideration was to be given to the staffing of the engineering department, of which two members are articled and three are in varying stages of completing their qualifications.—Ed. E.S.]

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I would like to express my opinion and those of many more respectable citizens I know about the recent riots. I think Mr Black was a lot to blame for the speech he made, which only aggravated the people, for when they are starving it does not take much to upset them. I feel sorry for the unemployed, many of whom fought for the Union Jack, which ho says stands for law and order, but I don’t think it stands for starvation. Mr Black also telephoned Mr Forbes to say there was not one starving. He only needs to have a look into some of the homes and he would see the mistake he made. It is about time tho people got together and demanded the resignation of the present Government. They demand taxes —they are right; the worker demands food—he is wrong. So for the sake of the Old Flag let us get together and keep it flying, and not let it be disgraced by starving the unemployed.—l am, etc., Vigilant. April 15.