RELIEF STRIKE THREAT

Evening Star, Issue 21637, 5 February 1934, Page 8

RELIEF STRIKE THREAT

FEW ABSENTEES FROM GROUPS STRIKE ACTION MEETING ATTENDED BY 230 While it is reported by the employ* ment authorities that, with the exception of the usual number of Monday, absentees, the works and reserves department groups of relief workers in( Dunedin commenced at 8 a.m. to-day,; some 230 men attended a meeting in the Trades Hall, under the auspices of the National Unemployed _ Workers’' Movement, with the intention of declaring a strike as a protest againsfi the conditions imposed on the workers.. After several speakers had been heard a deputation was appointed to wait on the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) this afternoon, with the object of requesting hint to call a special meeting of the local Unemployment Committee to-morrow, morning to receive a deputation from the N.U.W.M., which intends to ask that the committee make representations to Wellington on behalf of the workers. The deputation also wishes to request that the men be given authority to hold mass meetings in the Queen’s Gardens during the period of the strike. POSITION ELSEWHERE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 5. The Gisborne marchers, numbering forty, arrived in the city this morning and were met by a rather smaller number of the public. Many of the men show evidence of their long trek, otherwise all appeared well. They are now; marching through the streets. Everything is quiet, very little interest is being shown, and there is no call on the police to interfere. Most of the Wellington relief workers are two, and two and a-half day; men, and would not be working in any; case to-day. Inquiry this morning; showed that a very small number of the others were absent from their jobs* So far as Wellington is concerned, it appears that there will be very little active participation in the strike. HASTINGS, February 5. The borough unemployment official* estimate that fully 80 per cent, of tha unemployed ignored the call for a strike this morning, and went oh to the jobs. It is considered that by tomorrow very few won’t be at work a* usual. The result of the recent ballot was reported to be virtually unanimous in favour of a strike. PALMERSTON N., February 5. When the relief workers set out for their jobs this morning, 'pickets and police were present, hut no untoward incident occurred. Of 230 men set down to report for City Council work only sixteen were absent, and it is believed that some ot these absences are due to sickness. Workers on the Kairanga County job are practically at full strength. . Of the sixty men usually employed on the Manawatu Drainage Board works, about twenty-five put in an appearance to-day.