PREMIER HECKLED.

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1927, Page 5

PREMIER HECKLED.

BY U EMPLOYED. On Low Wage Relief Policy. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 14. A largo deputation of unemployed Waited on the I‘rime Minister and the Minister of Labour to-day. It was certainly not on its best behaviour. Although only two members of the deputation were appointed to speak, the efforts of Mr K. McKeon, M.P., and Mr I’. Eraser, M.P., were unable to control the men or to prevent numbers of them interjecting when the Minister of Labour and the Prime Minister were speaking to them. They were indignant that the wages <»t‘ single men on the relief work Would not be more than 9s a day, ami they maintained that they could not possibly live on that sum. The men. ref used to allow the Prime Minister ex|plain! the position so far as it affected the Public Works Department, and his remark that already the Department was employing between four and live thousand more men than were required wan received with derision. They crowded ruuim the Prime -Minister, and when he op ened his cigarette case in answer to a request lor a cigarette, they forced forward, breaking the table at which the Prime -Minister and the Minister of Labour had been sitting. They forced the Prime Minister against the wall, ami knocked over a typist, for tuiiately without hurting her. . The Prime Minister made it plain that the Government would not non deviate from the policy already set out, and he advised the single men to organise and work in gangs. This suggestion was not favourably received! ' STATE SUBSIDIES. On Low Wage Basis. (Per Press Assn.) WELLINGTON. June 14. Hon G. J. Anderson (Minister of Labour) to-day outlined further direction? in which the Government were prepar <■<l to move to relieve the unemployment. The Government, ho said, have decided to subsidise £ for £ moneys borrowed for the sole purpose of the relief of unemployment provided the works have not been included in any schedule of works for which a loan Ims ) raised by I lie local authorit y. The subsidy will also be paid for VOluntarv subscriptions by private per Sons provided these have been handed over to Imai bodies to Im expended upon approved relief works. Mliere Counties. Hoad Boards or other local bodies in rural districts raise a loau for relief of unemployment, the Govern rnent will each application on its me. its and where these are approv ~J will grant £1 for £1 upon the total cost of the work. Parliament will .jo asked to extend the operation of tnct passed last year to enable local bo dies to mi- bmns for the relief of uncinplovment. No work will be subside -d in'a cit v, borough or town district unless 6<> per cent of the estimated cost is io be paid for labour on the .actual work done, and the linrernment kill subsidise such approved works up L, fifty per cent of the cost of the ln_ Wiiir based on 12/- a day for married leu’and !>/- a day for single men.