The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1932. UNEMPLOYMENT AND ATMOSPHERE.

Evening Star, Issue 21079, 16 April 1932, Page 12

The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1932. UNEMPLOYMENT AND ATMOSPHERE.

The great majority by which relief workers of Dunedin in a secret ballot have declared their desire to work provides its own commentary upon the resolutions passed under certain auspices earlier this week. The ballot was not complete, being taken only by those who had work to go to and went to it yesterday, but the fact that nearly 80 per cent, elected to earn as much as they could leaves no doubt of the general disposition. The fact that the poll was taken “ at the job ” does not appreciably affect the significance of its result, because we are informed that the number of those who had work to go to yesterday and did not go to it was infinitesimal. The Unemployed Workers’ Movement has repudiated the ballot, declaring that it was not carried out in a “constitutional” manner. It should not, of course, have been a secret vote. But the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, which might have been a benefit to its class, should now be as discredited with relief workers as it has long been with the public as a whole. A strike against relief work made by men who profess that they are starving is at best an absurdity which ought to be impossible outside a Gilbertian opera. It should be as unthinkable as a decision for voluntary group suicide but for the power of a minority iii some workers’ circles to coerce a majority by methods of their own. The power of the “evil eye,” or of the Lord’s Prayer said backwards, to throw poor wretches into a paroxysm of terror a few centuries ago has its counterpart to-day in a word Of four letters which is the hist remaining relic of superstition. The “ witch-doctor ” still survives while the agitator can wield that spell. But the old “ witch-doctors ” were hardly as cruel as the agitators who would condemn men and their families to starvation in order that their whims may be fulfilled. The power is supplemented by “ peaceful ” picketing, which is not peaceful, but only another means of intimidation. Without going so far as some other suggestions which Were made in the Legislative Council yesterday, we would heartily support the demand that “ peaceful ” picketing in such abnormal circumstances as the present, when only disadvantages for labour are sought to be gained by it, should be made illegal. The unemployed have had many troubles, but starvation, except as it lias been courted by some of their leaders, has not been one of them. That was made plain in Dunedin when our demonstrations were hold. It has been made plain again in Auckland. When a mob lost its bead in that city, not. one food shop was looted. The rough element which took advantage of confusion, as such elements always do when trouble begins, preferred jewellers’ shops and tobacconists’ for their depredations. Leaders of the unemployed strove to restrain the stonethrowing and pilfering, but, as usual, they could not do it. And that emphasises the importance of atmosphere as a provocation of disturbances. A bad atmosphere, pregnant with trouble, can be worked up by those who would shrink from, violence, and do their best, when the attempt was too late, to dissuade from it. That has been done everywhere by some leaders of the unemployed, and by not a few speeches of the Labour Party. To avoid the bad atmosphere which can be produced by exaggerated statements either againft the authorities, or of the real hardships of the unemployed, should be a care of everyone at the present time, and another thing to be avoided is the repetition of disturbing rumours. Those are bound to be spread when trouble is at its height. Probably the worst incitement to an intensification of the Auckland outrages, after those had begun, was the spreading of a rumour, -wholly without foundation but persisting for hours, that there had been firing at the crowd. There have been canards enough in Dunedin in the j last few days to suffice for a six months’ period, and probably there have been more in the northern centres. We can expect to hear mire, in the weeks to come, of the argument that present methods of relief work should give place to the dole, pure and simple, as being hardly if at all more demoralising than artificially-made work, and also cheaper. The argument is strengthened as useful work, for men who cannot leave the cities, becomes more difficult to provide. The question should be considered by the Government.