GISBORNE “HUNGER MARCHERS”

Evening Star, Issue 21638, 6 February 1934, Page 12

GISBORNE “ HUNGER MARCHERS”

INTERVIEW WITH MR BROMLEY [Special to the Star.] WELLINGTON, February 6. A deputation of four speakers from tbe Gisborne unemployed, describing themselves ns “hunger marchers,” had a long interview with Mr Bromley, a member of the Unemployment Board, while their associates waited in the street in orderly fashion. There was no demonstration on arrival at the board’s office, local sympathisers apparently having interests elsewhere. The speakers complained of the coolie pay for single men. and described the Public Works rates as impossible to maintain a family on. Willing men failed to earn more than £2 a week, while the high freight on food meant bread costing 2s 2d a loaf. They requested the provision of food in addition to fixed rates in camp of £2 and 37s 6d. Mr Bromley asked if anybody was likely to take’ farm work again if such rates were paid on relief. The board was having a- look at the “over tbe fence ” scheme, as the farmer was not entitled to cheap labour when he reached the position of being able to afford the usual wages. He was not quite sure that the deputation’s actions prior to leaving Gisborne, resulting in a number of men absenting themselves from work and depriving themselves of the relief offering, was not tending further to embarrass their unfortunate dependents. A member of the deputation interjected that their families were being kept by the citizens of Gisborne, and they were 100 per cent, better off. Mr Bromley retorted that not all the Gisborne men thought it better, because 229 were at work. This statement was questioned by the deputation, but Mr Bromley pointed out that the board must know, because it had to pay them. The board’s great concern was to get back to full-time work under normal conditions, and it was having a great deal of success, as shown by the fact that the number of men for the week ending January 26 for whom there was nothing better than parttime employment under scheme 5 namely 40,000 —was the lowest since April, 1931. It was 17,000 less than at the peak period. Arrangements were made last month for additional full-time employment by a number qf local bodies on public utility works in Dunedin, Rotorua, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, Gore, and Masterton. There were 6,637 on the time-sheets of works subsidised under scheme 10. • Mr Bromley’s reply was followed by questions from the deputation. He declined to enter into argument, and one after another the speakers, declaring that they were getting no satisfaction, left the room. One persistent questioner was hurried away by a colleague because there was another appointment, he said. The Gisborne contingent has a senes of meetings in Wellington and the district which will occupy them till Sunday.