UNITED FRONT

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1932, Page 5

UNITED FRONT

MASS DEMONSTRATION Christchurch Labourites (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH. May I. A mass demonstration, organised by The group styled the United Front of Labour, was held in Christchurch today. There was a procession through the streets and a meeting in Cranmer Square. Th o meeting was addressed by Labour speakers, including the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., Mr J. K. Archer, the Deputy-Mayor; and Mr E. J. Howard, M.P. There were also Communist speakers. “The; Red Flag” and “The Internar'onal” were sung, although the crowd did rather badly with “The International. ’ ’ Tho proceedings were quite orderly. The Police had taken elaborate precautions to prevent any disorder. No dis-1 play of foice was made by tho police, 300 SPECIALS IN LEASH. In the King Edward Barracks, a quarter of a mile from Crannrer Square, there were packed 300 special constables, with motor cars, for speedy mobilisation at any front where trouble threatened. Some shopkeepers, notably hotels with bottle stores, were asked not to display their wares in their windows. The demonstrators, however, were probably unaware of these precautions. They saw nothing of the special constables. PROPOSED MARCH TO CHEVIOT. CHRISTCHURCH, April 30. Herbert Edwin Barnsley was unable to secure his two further witnesses for the defence at present, and he was again remanded till Tuesday. Two witnesses to be called are Sydney H. Fournier and Mrs Clark, chairwoman of the Women’s Branch of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement. Barnsley was remanded on Friday to allow him to secure their evidence. “Mr Fournier and Mrs Clark were unable to attend to-day, and I want to ask for a further remand,” said Barnsley. “No, I can’t do it,” said the Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley. “You have had every opportunity. You can’t treat the Court like that. I am not pi epared now to give you any further opportunity.” “The evidence is very valuable,” said the Magistrate, “and I gave you every opportunity to complete your case. ”

Barnsley: I submit, sir, I am entitled to every chance.

Tho Magistrate: You have had it. You were specially remanded yesterday to get those witnesses. Barnsley: Mr Fournier is suffering fiom lumbago and is not capable of going outside. • After some demur, the Magistrate finally agreed to a remand. AUCKLAND UNEMPLOYED. AUCKLAND, April 30. Fourteen men were to-day committed for trial on charges of participating in the riot on April 14. In all sixty-three witnesses were heard, including most of the police force. The accused reserved their defence. Two asked for bail, which was fixed at £5OO. Charges of throwing missiles in Karangahape Road on the evening of April 15, and inciting lawlessness were preferred against Arthur Francis Sturt, a bushman and a native, of England, aged 35 years. A constable said that he saw Sturt throw a beer bottle at a mounted Territorial, and the accused was in : the act of throwing a second bottle when he noticed that he was detected by witness. Mr Hunt, S.M., in dismissing the charges, said that the accused had a good record, and there was also the faef that the constable had been eight yards from him in l a press of people. WORKLESS WOMEN. WELLINGTON, April 30. In connection with the organisation of relief for unemployed women and girls, the Unemployment Board has appointed a committee to confer with local organisations in various parts of the Dominion. The committee will be charged with the duty of co-ordinating the relief measures now in operation and suggesting to the Board any improvements in them.

The members of the committee arc: Mrs Marshall MacDonald,. Dunedin; Miss B. E. Carnachan, Auckland; and Mrs C. K. Wilson, Piopio (a prominent member of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union). Mr H. D. Thomson, under-secretary of the Immigration Department, is chairman of the committee.

The lady members of the committee left Wellington for the south last evening. They proceed to Invercargill and will work their way north, meeting members of women’s relief bodies and discussing with them proposals for assisting unemployed women and girls in each locality. New Scheme POSTPONED FOR A MONTH. CHRISTCHURCH, April 30. The proposal by the Unemployment Board to introduce a new scale of pay on relief works on Monday has been postponed for a month. All works in progress in the city and suburbs, therefore, will be continued on the present basis until further notice. Relief workers in Christchurch have been considering what action they would adopt to oppose the new scheme, and a ballot on the subject was taken on various jobs during the week. “Tt is evident that the threat of a secrel ballot for a general strike has had some effect upon Mr CmU de- ! ■ re.' • ‘’kc • ' • : ’ ’ ' u • i1

ployed this morning in announcing that he understood that the unemployment scheme would be postponed for a month. THE LEVY AND TAX. WELLINGTON, April 30. It appears that a wrong impression exists in regard to the emergency unemployment charge to be levied on income other than salary or wages, stated an officer of the Unemployment Board to-day. Under the Amendment Act of 1931. a charge of three pence in the pound would have been payable in May on one-third of income other than salary or wages derived during the year ended March 31. The charge will not now be made, as the increased rate of one shilling in the pound is payable in four equal quarterly instalments on the whole of the income for that year. The first instalment at the increased is due for May Ist and is pay--1 "Ithin one month.