MINISTER HECKLED

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 June 1931, Page 11

MINISTER HECKLED

LIVELY SCENES AT AUCKLAND. “WHO IS GOING TO PAY?” There were lively scenes on Wednesday .morning when the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. A. Yeitcli, addressed a deputation of the Auckland unemployed at the Central Hotel, reports the “Star.” The deputation was arranged at short notice and about 1000 men with banners flying marched to the front door of tlie hotel. Two members of the deputation saw the Minister, who decided to address the men from the front steps. He was greeted with derisive cheers. Mr Veitch opened by saying that his sympathies were wholly with the unemployed workers of Auckland, where the position appeared to be worse than anywhere else in New Zealand. He said that they were all good citizens of New Zealand and he was sure— A. voice: Cut all that stuff out. Me don’t want any of that. Give ns something constructive. Another voice: What about the refusal of the Government to accept the offer of the Farmers’ Union to supply mutton to the various towns? Chorus of voices: Yes. answer that! Mr Veitch said that the Government had bought a quantity of sheep when prices were low. and the mutton was now stored ready for dispersal to needy persons. • A voice: All very fine! Who is going to pay for it? We have no money. “EVERY SHILLING.” Mr Veitch: You will not be asked to pay for it. Every available shilling in the Treasury will be used for the relief of the present situation. I have promised to wire A voice from the outskirts of the crowd : What are. you going to do about rents and evictions? Mi* Yeitcli: We will go into that. Another voice: The usual, inevitable answer. The Government An interiector: The time has come when we, the workers, are going to expose you, the Government. Whenever you’re asked to meet a situation in plain English you always say, ‘We will go into it,’ and talk about waiting. Whatever the unemolbyed mav do in the future will be the responsibility of the Government. The unemployed of this' country is coming into its own, and we will hold the Government responsible.

A woman: It’s all very well for you to stand on the steps there in your fine clothes and talk. There is food in your house. But me —my husband is out of work, arid I have nothing to clothe us. We have nothing to put oil the faille. We have no money for gas. What are you going to do about that ? “WE WANT FACTS.” Mr Yeitcli said that he thought fie could .state the attitude and the position of the Government. He realised, as one who had himself worked in the ranks of the labourers, what it meant to be out of a job. He bad every sympathy with them. (Sustained, derisive laughter and cheers.) Another voice: We want facts. We want a. statement of remedies. We know all that. Have you anything to teH us! J The Minister: Believe me, i am not angry. 1 realise the position. I . M any voices: And neither are wo. And of course, you aren't. You’ve got. no reason to be. You speak for the capitalist class. For flic .rich, not for us. “THIS GETS US NOWHERE.” Another interject or: There is no remedy. It,is a. matter of a, fault in the system. Capitalism against labour. Another map. then put a question to the crowd. “Do you believe in the Government? Do you trust the Government at idly Signify in the usual way. There was a . voilev of “Noes.” Mr Y eiteh : I did not runic down here to discuss the economic system. I told your representatives I was perfectly willing to meet you, and I am still, but this gets US' nowhere. Will you give . Another voice: Will the. unemployment Board be paid' LToO after the No d scheme ceases? 1 Mr Witch : They are not paid L'ToO. As a matter of fact . Will von give us v our assurance that von will do your .best to restore the No. d scheme or something similar? Air Veitch : Absolutely. One of the crowd then put another motion to the meeting, that tjie United Government had failed to carry out its contract. The verdict was again unanimous. A fresh sneaker: Will von stand there-, and tell os that, the Government has not failed? Will you say to us that you have not lied' to us? The Minister; I was promised by your representative that I would receive a fair hearing. I will not bn called a liar.

IMPORTS OF GOAL. Another person raised tin* .subject ot; the West coast collieries. The crowd cheered him when ho proclaimed that there was something behind tin* action of the Government in ordering coal from abroad, when tin- mines in the district were run by the Government. “You thought that there would be a strike,’’ he : challenged the Minister. “There was no thought of that,” Air Veitch replied. The crowd laughed. “Well 1. understand that the chairman Juts declared the meeting closed said Air Veitch amidst cat-calls. “You are the judges and you are entitled to be the judges." The crowd (as one man) : We will be. AI ESS AGE TO PRIAI.H AIINISTER. Air Veitch subsequently sent the following telegram to the I’jnnio Minis-) ter : “I met large number of unemployed at Auckland this morning. There are definite indications that unemployment distress is pressing and calls forj immediate, remedial measures. .1 promised the deputation that i would communicate with you urging inimcdi-! 'ate action to provide temporary relief pending decision of Parliament on the whole question of unemployment. I propose this afternoon to get into touch with tin- Hospital Board authorities with a. view to arriving at a. definite arrangement for prompt relief and will communicate with you later in the day in. this regard. I understand ' certain surplus produce is available from Waikato district, and that free conveyance is desired. I would recommend that you authorise, Biailway Board to grant free transport of this produce for relief purposes if not already done."