CANADA’S UNEMPLOYED

Evening Star, Issue 21171, 3 August 1932, Page 7

CANADA’S UNEMPLOYED

THE OTTAWA DEMONSTRATION DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. OTTAWA, August 2, (Received August 3, at 9.10 a.m.) Mr Bennett received a delegation of the unemployed, and promised to consider possible measures to relievo distress. Ho firmly refused to liberate the imprisoned agitators, and declined to discuss the Communistic planks of their demands. DEMONSTRATORS DISPERSED MANY ARRESTS, OTTAWA, August 2. (Received Augusfi 3, at 10 a.m.) The police dispersed a crowd of 700 demonstrators to-day, making wholesale arrests. “ We are doing everything that this country can stand to assist the needy, which is primarily the duty of the provinces, and to maintain our national life,” said Mr Bennett to-day, when replying to a delegation from the National Conference of Unemployment Councils. He said he considered that the programme of the deputation would not achieve the desired aims. Six men and one woman (Mrs Wilkinson, from North York) were admitted to Mr Bennett’s office, adjacent to Parliament Buildings. Two Ministers, Mr Guthrie and Mr Gordon, and half a dozen detectives were also present. The meeting was friendly, no violent speeches being made. Mr Bennett declared that Canada would not remove the embargo against Russian goods. He pointed out that Russia’s undercutting of prices had ruined Canada’s lumber market and had prejudiced the wheat market. He mentioned as an instance that the Quebec asbestos mine had been closed because Russia quoted 60 per cent, below Quebec’s cost price. He warned the delegation, which claimed to represent move than 200,000 workers, that the dominion’s laws would be enforced. The imprisoned Labour agitators had been convicted on their own admissions. It had been proved that they had been receiving money from Moscow. They must serve their sentences, and would be punished again if similar offences wore committed. It was impossible to sanction a dole of 10 dollars. The Government would not introduce a noncontributory Unemployment Insurance Act. Mrs Wilkinson said: “My children are starving. You are forcing our girls into the streets.” Mr Bennett patted her hand paternally, and said: “ Don’t get bitter. I will write personally to the relief superintendent at North York telling him of your family’s circumstances.” Mr Bennett afterwards escorted Mrs Wilkinson down the stairs and stood talking earnestly to her at the doorway for several minutes. The other delegates dispersed quietly. WORKERS' CONFERENCE CONCLUDES OTTAWA, August 2. (Received August 3, at 10 a.m.) The Workers’ Conference concluded by carrying a series of resolutions denouncing the “ Imperialist Economic Conference as another step towards war, sharpening the rivalries between the Imperialist Powers—particularly Britain and America—and seeking to unite the British Empire as a solid military front.” The conference closed with cries of “ tong live the Soviet,” and the singing of the ‘ Third International.’ TEN PEOPLE ARRESTED OTTAWA, August 2. (Received August 3, at 11 a.m.) Ten persons were arrested, including two women.