“WE WANT FOOD”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11949, 20 May 1933, Page 5

“WE WANT FOOD”

UNEMPLOYED MARCH THROUGH CHRISTCHURCH.

PROTEST'AGAINST REFUSAL OF

RATIONS

MAYOR DONATES £4O FROM RELIEF FUND.

WORKLESS ADJOURN TO HOSPITAL BOARD.

TEMPER ARY SETTLEMF.X T. Prujss Assona f lon.:* CHRISTCHURCH, May 19. Three hundred unemployed men from relief works marched through the city this morning carrying sugar sacks, and waited, on the Mayor demanding further assistance, haying boon refused rations by the- Hospital Board

The hoard has been administering weekly - grants from the Mayor’s fund but the rand now is exhausted. Tilt •men are indignantly protesting. Addressing the Mayor concerning the Hospital Board’s attitude, the spokesman said ho' was convinced tha tthey had been subjected to this form of tyranny and oppression long enough. If tlio hoard, could not provide relief .someone must. It wa P a P oriori,x deputation, with a. serious demand.

“AYo want food,” be said. '‘lt’s a pretty state of affairs when a human being is being treated in this fashion. AYe want food, and want it now.”

Tho Mayor promised to do what he could before to-morrow, and informed the men that if they chose two of their number they could wait on the Government as a deputation, and he would sec that their fares to Wellington wore paid. After interviewing the Mayor, the men marched to the offices of the Labour Department, seeking an interA’iew with the officer in charge. M’ R. T. Bailey. They, were informed that Mr. Bailey was out but would meet the deputation at 1-45. The Press wore not admitted to th o deputation, but afterwards Mr. Bailey said that the Mayor had agreed to grant £4O from the Mayor’s •relief fund or the relief of necessitous cases among the men. The Major had asked that this money be distributed by the benevolent committee °f the Hospital Board. Air. Bailey said ho had telephones to- the Unemployment Board in -Wellington and had placed the vim}© position before it. After hearing the result of the deputation to • Mr. Bailey, the _whole body of men marched to the Hospital Board’s office, where they waited three-quarters of an hour, while tho Mayor and Mr. Bailey conferred- ™ th tho benevolent committee. The men remained -quiet and goodhumoured, but towards the-end of the long wait, their patience began to ebb. Tho outcome of the conference was that the benevolent committee agreed ■tv distribute £4O for this week, and that assistance would be given to those men who normally would have been granted relief after ibis weGv. If anything could he done for them it would be done through Mr. Bailey’s office, and the benevolent committee would grant rations only ™ men who were undergoing tho standdown week.