UNEMPLOYED

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1932, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED

DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING. A meeting of the West Coast District Council of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement was held at th? Traffic Inspector’s Olßce, Greymouth, last Saturday. Mr C. McAnulty chairman of the Council, presided, and there were present eleven delegates repiorenting Blackball, Millerton, Denniston, Greymouth and Brunnerton branches. Remits from the Grey,mouth branch were dealt with. Tho first was “That the Communist element in the U.W.M. bo eliminated, and that democratic principles be carried out always.” A short one-sided discussion took place, but no delegate supported the remit. The one opinion expressed, was tna' all the unemployed were workers, and irrespective of differences of views on economic ajid political matters, alt were entitled to membership and to take an active part in the movement. The remit was therefore rejected. The next remit was, “That unemployed workers be represented on th-a National Unemployment Board.” This was adopted without discussion. A long discussion on the strike policy then took place. As no definite . lead had been given by the National Executive most delegates were not sure as to what attitude the West Coast branch should adopt in a confused situation. Reports to hand from thq branches, while expressing a willing ness to engage in a struggle for bet ter conditions indicated at the same time an almost unanimous feeling against anything in the nature of a sectional strike be'ng entered upon. At this stage the respective decisions of each branch are as follows:—West port is not prepared to take action meantime; Millerton is pledged to «?upport a strike if the District Coun cil favours it; Greymouth pledges support to a national strike; Runariga is unanimous in favour of a strike: Blackball pledges support to a joint •'trike of organised workers and unemployed; Brunnerton has not yet come to a decision; Reefton offers no sup port.

A long discussion on the situation failed to clarify the confused sot ot circumstances in which they found themselves. .Therefore, in order to make their own position clear, the Millerton delegate tabled tho following resolution, “That the Council declares support of a strike on the West Coast.” On a card vote being taken it was found that only Millerton supported the motion. The Greymouth delegate then came forward with the following resolution. “That the Council support a strike of National Unemployed Workers, but refuses to sanction any sectional strike movement/’ Ou a card vote the motion was carried, Blackball voting against it and Millerton abstaining. The Secretary, Mr W. B. Crawford, stated that, for tho time being, the resolution expresses the strike policy of the District Council. There must be a Hear, definite call for a national, strike of relief workers, come from the National Executive before any strike action can be sanctioned on the West Coas:. The next meeting of the Council will be held at Westport on June H-