UNEMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21631, 29 January 1934, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

D.C.C. RESERVES DEPARTMENT The following groups will report for work at 8 a.in. to-morrow:— 369—Morningtou Football Ground. 229—Rest Home, Roslyn. FORM U.B. 32A It is again necessary that each relief worker completes form TJ.B. 32a, and it has therefore been arranged that each week the men in certain specified groups will be required to obtain form U.B. 32a from the Labour Bureau, and, after completion, to return it personally on or before a specified date. Each man must produce his levy book with the completed form. Any worker who neglects to return the completed form bv _ the due date will be deleted from his group, and will not again be granted relief work unless, and until, he has been reposted to a group by the Labour Bureau. Forms are now available at the bureau to members of the following groups, and must be returned personally by the date specified. I'd be returned by Saturday, February 10, 1934; Groups 250 to 264, 300 to 319, 350 to 363, 200 to 212.“ All group numbers are inclusive. , UNEMPLOYED WORKERS' MOVEMENT A general meeting of the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement was held in the Trades Hall on Tuesday evening. Mr J. Gilchrist presided over a fair attendance of members. Correspondence was received from the forestry camp (Kelso), Port Chalmers Relief Workers’ Association, secretary N.U.W.M. (Palmerston), Dunedin Tramways Union, Mr R. A. Johnston (town clerk), Mr F. Jones, M.P., general secretary N.U.W.M. (Wellington), Dunedin Boot Repairers’ Association, Sawyers Bay N.U.W.M., Master Grocers’ Industrial Union or Employees, Railway Servants of New Zealand, and the secretary, Mornington N.U.W.M. Messrs Geddes and Williams were appointed to attend the railway servants’ meeting. • The Secretary reported on the ballot in connection with the national strike action. Reports from deputations who had attended union and other meetings, were received. I Messrs Spence- and Westcroft were elected to the executive.

Mr Murray, Auckland, gave a short address on the condition of the unemployed in that district.

Speakers for meetings on the Oval and at the Botanical Gardens were selected as follow:—At the Oval: Messrs J. W. Munro, M.P., G. Geddes, Bfc O’Donnell, P. Neilson, A. B. Powell* and S. Ikin. At the Gardens: Messrs F. Jones, M.P., Z. Williams, C. Moss,M. Silverstone, J. Gilchrist, and O’Rorke.

A deputation from the, Dunedin! North Unemployed Association was given a hearty welcome. The Secretary reported that the “Way Out ” pamphlets had now arrived, and would be distributed to members free. - Reports of a mass meeting in the Trades Hall and the Organising Committee were received. Mr G. Geddes gave an interesting address, on ‘ ‘Party Politics ’ being accorded » hearty vote of thanks. Messrs Spence and O’Rorke agreed to address the next meeting on Tuesday evening. SOUTH DUNEDIN ASSOCIATION The South Dunedin Town Hall presented a very pleasing and colourful spectacle last Tuesday night, when the South Dunedin Unemployed Association held its plain and fancy dress dance. , , The committee has decided to hold a similar function every month, and it has been decided to advertise at an early date to allow of everyone procuring- a costume. Further particulars will be fully advertised later, .' - The winners of the various prizes this week, were: Most original,costumes, Miss Jean. M’Connell and Mr Andrew Robb; best fancy dress, Mrs Goodie; Monte Carlo, Mr and Mrs M‘Austin; lucky door tickets. Miss M.i Lethaby and Mr Phillips. The usual dance will be held on Tuesday next. MEETING AT GARDENS Yesterday afternoon at the Botanical Gardens a public meeting was'held by; the unemployed. The first speaker, Mr: J. Gilchrist, dealt with the interview; he and others had with the Prime Minister. Mr Forbes had said that before the: demands of the unemployed could 1 be granted there would require to be ' a complete change of our whole social system. This was an admission, 'the speaker said, which showed where (the Government of this country stood. The Minister evidently was. making a smoke screen to obscure the fact of the existence of great material riches in New; Zealand. The next speaker was Mr C. Moss,-’ a member l of the- local Unemployment Committee, who supplied some information regarding the Unemployment Act. He contended that not enough advantage had been taken of it by the local authorities. He described the opposition which met him in 1 his attempts to have the Act sympathetically x Mr M. O’Rorke followed with a very vigorous short, speech,, in which ho stressed the need for greater joint action .on the part of all who recognised “ the pernicious nature'of the capitalist system.” He declared there was one thing the workers possessed which’ could not be taken from them, and this i was their! number. A common basis was needed on .which to unite. Mr M. Silverstone followed. After* dealing with what he described as the iniquity of the consequences of unemployment, went on to speak of, the visit of the Prime Minister.

The meeting was' attended by 20Q people; ! '

STRIKE BALLOT NOT A TRUE VERDICT [Fn United Psass Aiiocunow.J AUCKLAND, January 29.' , A meeting yesterday of the executives of the branches affiliated with the National Union of Unemployed and 1 the Auckland Provincial Unemployed; Association unanimously resolved to deny all allegations of the association’s participation in the taking of a ballot' on strike. action. It was resolved, that the indiscriminate method of taking the ballots did not permit of a true verdict being obtained, and further that women were not given the right to record their votes. Yt We therefore desire to make known our refusal to take part in the conduct of the ballot, believing that the outcome of such methods can only result in alienating public sympathy and inflicting upon women and children further hardships and misery. At the same time we call upon subscribers to the unemployment fund to demand that the suffering section of humanity , be adequately provided for.”