STRIKE PROVOKERS

Evening Star, Issue 21636, 3 February 1934, Page 9

STRIKE PROVOKERS

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, —The “ hunger march ” is a misnomer, as the few who are engaged in it are travelling by motor lorries. However, the influences behind it are sinister, and we urge the unemployed not to »be mixed up with a movement which will alienate the citizens who provide the funds for their relief, and who have every sympathy for those out of work. For the information of the public, it should be stated that there are in New Zealand two organisations—(l) The National Union of Unemployed Workers was formed by relief workers to look after their conditions, and, though exception may be taken to some of its proposals, the public should realise that its attitude on this strike question has been quite sound. This is a moderate organisation endeavouring to better the position of relief workers. (2) The National Unemployed Workers’ Movement was organised by the Communist Party on lines definitely laid down from Moscow. Its aim is not to assist tho relief worker, but to use him as a catspaw to cause trouble with the authorities—an aim very candidly stated by its orders from abroad. It has also to “carry on an undeviating and merciless struggle against the reformist leaders [i.e., the moderate organisation] and to unite all the unemployed in committees under revolutionary leaders—-must carry on systematic and every-day agitation ” —and so on. We are told that this body has taken strike ballots in which the other organisation refused to join. How are the ballots taken? Are the scrutineers appointed by the voters or by the Communist leaders? Are the results of the ballots properly declared? The moderate organisation should look into this. We believe that in one district, where the strike was declared to be carried, over two-thirds of the registered unemployed did not vote, and only _8 per cent, favoured a strike. If this is true it indicates that the majority of relief workers are not behind this attempt to cause disorder. W© urge the moderates, who form a large majority, to refuse to play the game of these agitators, who are more anxious to please their foreign masters than to relieve distress. —We are, etc., N.Z. Welfare League. Wellington, January 31.