“IN DESPERATE STRAITS”

Hawera Star, Volume L, 9 January 1931, Page 5

“IN DESPERATE STRAITS”

1N YKB OABGI LI /S II NEM.PLO Y ED.

DEMAND FOR WORK RATION

(By Telegraph—Cress Association.)

INVERCARGILL, Jan. 8,

Two hundred and fifty unemployed representing with their dependents about ICOd people met in the trades and labour hail to-dify [to consider their position. The meeting decided to appoint a deputation to wait on the Hon. P. A, de la Perrelle in Invercargill on Friday morning when the unemployed will assemble in Post Office Square. in the course of his address to the meeting Mr. T. O’Byrne, a member of the city council, said: “Work must be rationed. What we are here to do to-day is to show the Government the Unemployment Board and the people of New Zealand that we are in desperate straits. We have to show them the distress which exists even here. While your wives and families are in need of food and clothing nothing is being done. “I am a member of the local unemployment committtee and we can offer you nothing. Wc have heard nothing from the board; whether the members are still on their holidays or not I cannot say. The long suit of boards, councils and the Government seems to be proscrastination. Something will have to be done. You have paid your levies and work must be found for you.” . Among the motions carried were the following: “That the deputation wait on the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle on Fridav and impress upon him the gravity of the position and the need for immediate assistance, and that the deputation be supported by a mass meeting of unemployed in Post Office Square.” “That representations be made to the Government and Unemployment Board pointing out the distress that exists as a result of unemployment in Southland and urging immedate financial assistance.’