GREYMOUTH UNEMPLOYED.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1932, Page 5

GREYMOUTH UNEMPLOYED.

[to the editob.J Sir, —Your report on Unemployed affairs makes it necessary, even at the risk of becoming a nuisance, to address you again. I am one of the three men in Cobden to whom you refer, and I have pleasure in corroborating your report. We contended that by going to work lawfully and peacefully, we were rendering Messrs Holland and O’Brien better support than could be rendered by refusing to accept relief. Our only hope of getting our wrongs redressed, lay in obtaining the support of the public, as well as ourselves, for the M’s P., and then allowing them to fight our case in the House. The refusal to accept relief, miscalled a strike, made us the laughing stock of the town and effectively crippled all hope of gaining public support. Mr Greenslade, we were repeatedly told, was with us, but, however, the leaders in this business expected him publicly to declare in our favour, while we were acting unconstitutionally and, by picketing, unlawfully, is beyond me. The Chamber of Commerce in Waipukurau (see “Star,” October 10), is supporting their unemployed, and if the lead of the “negligible exception” had been followed, good reasons were forthcoming in order to’ gain the support of, this and other public bodies here. However, the leaders thought it better to refuse us a voice in their counsels, and called a special meeting to expel us. I enclose the letter received from the Movement for your perusal, and if you think it of sufficient public interest, and not a waste of printer’s ink, you may publish it. I was asked by the picket if I were willing to attend a meeting and state my case. I answered, “Certainly.” Later the same man asked me not to attend. Then followed the note showing that my willingness to speak before a meeting had been construed to mean a request to speak, but at least one of the leaders is an adept at misrepresenting his opponents when he rises to reply, so that hardly matters. The reason that the single men patronise the Lyceum Hall meetings in such numbers is that they have followed the Movement’s lead and refused to go to the camps, and are now receiving no income. The Movement, consequently, levies the married men. and from the proceeds issues occasional 5/- food tickets to the single ones. But in order to obtain a ticket, the single man must attend the meeting where it is issued. However, I am sorry for them if they have to live on the little that can .be got from that source. While on this subject, also, it will at once be apparent that the meeting which decided that single men should vote on the “strike”’ question, and which permitted such question to be carried by a bare majority, was to a large extent composed of single men. I thank you for your closing comments, and I trust the general public will also realise that the bulk of the . unemployed are steady, responsible citizens;, anxious 'only for a chance to pay their way and meet theii lawful obligations, and do no.t in the least o'bject to rendering service to the community proportionate to the amount received in relief. Again thanking you. Yours etc., H. NOBLE, Cobden, October 14.

The following was the letter’ referred to above:— H. Noble, Cobden. Sir, —I am instructed to inform you that at a special meeting held in the Town Hall, Greymouth, on October 4, 1932, you -were expelled from membership of the Greymouth Branch of the U.W.M., therefore your request to be allowed to state your case at tonight’s meeting (October 5), 1932, cannot be entertained. Doubtless you are aware that other channels which you have used before, are open to ydfi wherein you may air your views on this matter. I am, Sir.—Alf Smith, Secretary, Greymouth Unemployment Movement.