RELIEF WORKERS’ UNION

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 6 September 1932, Page 6

RELIEF WORKERS’ UNION

HAWERA MEN ORGANISE GENERAL LABOURERS SECTION VISITING SPEAKERS’ ADDRESSES, A decision to form a Hawera relief section of the General Labourers’ Union, to "be attached to the New Plymouth branch of the Union, was made at a meeting of Hawera unemployed last evening following addresses by Messrs R. Fulton, secretary of the Workers’ Federation, New Plymouth ,and B. Thorne,’ chairman of the relief workers’ association, New Plymouth. There was an attendance of 38 relief workers, Mr S. Tysoe presiding.

Following a decision, by the meeting that the Press should be allowed to be present, the chairman's right to call a meeting of relief workers was questioned.

“Is this meeting called by the executive of the unemployed committee?” asked Mr H. Voyle. The chairman: By four members of the executive.

Mr Vovle stated that two of the four members had Vre signed their positions and, therefore, were not in a position to convene the meeting on behalf of the executive. He then further addressed the chairman and, getting no immediate reply, wanted to know if it was understood that he was talking to the chairman and not to himself.

The chairman reiterated his previous reply. “This meeting should have been called by the unemployed if they desired it,” said Mr Voyle. ‘ ‘ Apparently you consider that the meeting is not constitutional,” said Mr Tysoe. ‘ ‘ The rest of the men here are not raising any objections.” Mr Voyle: What authority have you to call a meeting? You know there is to be a meeting of the men to-mor-row night and it should have been left to the men to decide whether they wanted to be addressed. “We are not representing all the unemployed, but let us hear what the speakers have to -say,” said Mr Ramsay. “The men can form their own opinions.” Mr Thorne said he had come to advocate a closer organisation of relief workers. The present conditions were such that they could not afford to quarrel among themselves, but had to stand shoulder to shoulder in their troubles. By organisation he meant that they should stand united against any injustice. Almost every body of workers was organised and the relief workers were in as much nleed of organisation as any other section of the community and as much entitled to it. In New Plymouth the industrialists were organised, but iu llawera such was not the case, and industrial and fraternal organisation were two different things.

COMPENSATION CLAIMS,

The speaker referred to instances of compensation having been obtained for relief workers in accident cases, and stated that had it not been for industrial organisation the advantages secured in New Plymouth would not have been obtained. Many other matters directly affecting the welfare of the men were also brought within the scope of the section, and with the modest contribution of sixpence per month it was possible to achieve a great deal. “To be a trade unionist is to bo a man; to be a non-unionist is to lose your manhood,” added Mr 1 borne. Poverty and evil times such as the present had brought the relief worker outside of his normal organisation and it was now being endeavoured to bring him into an organisation that would be Dominion-wide. Generally' better conditions were essential to the relief worker, but only by the presentation of a united front could any measure of improvement be secured'. Criticising the No. 10 scheme of relief, the speaker said it should not have been introduced until the’ men had been able to securo their full measure of work under the No. o scheme. Under the No. 10 scheme the employers were obtaining up to a 33 1-3 subsidy; that should have been spent to give the No. 5 workers full work. The unemployment funds had been raised to help the men, but, he declared, they' were still to .be kept doyvn on the poverty line while some one benefited at their expense. There would be unending schemes, but the scheme the unemployed had to remember was that of how to live. . The working class had two commodities to sell —either brains or muscle —and had an equal right to demand a fair price. Organisation was the only means to secure a price. He did not say for a moment that anyone would attempt to drive the unemployed—it would be disastrous to try. Organisation suggested that the men should work along the one line and with the one object in view—to resist every' unjust inroad into a meagre standard of living. Organisation would bring pressure to bear upon a Government which had not fulfilled its word to the unemployed. One anomaly, and many others, could be ([noted, was that if a man were off ill for a period of 14 days he had to stand down for a further 14 days, at a time wlien he most urgently needed work.

Voices: That lias never happened here. Mr Thorne: Well, it has in New Plymouth, and it may happen here. If it were decided to form an organisation at Ilavvera a district committee would he set up to discuss aspects of relief workers’ problems throughout Taranaki, said Mr Thorne. IN TH R!LECTOR’S PROTEST The speaker proceeded to traverse the difficulties of labour organisation in the past and mentioned that L>o years ago deportees to convict settlements were branded as Government property with, a broad arrow across the forehead. “I protest against this sort of stuff; , it lias nothing to do with the subject,” ! said Mr Voyle. “If you don’t like it there is plenty of room, outside,” remarked the chairman. Proceeding, the speaker mentioned the convict ship “Research,” by which seven men were deported to a convict settlement because they had tried to organise labour. If such a risk had l to be run to-day men would think twice before taking action, but there was no hindrance to organisation and in their own interests the men should band together to protect their interests, and rights. Mr Fulton said he regretted the note

of dissension voiced early in the meeting. The meeting had ueen called by the relief section of the New Plymouth General Labourers’ Union for the purpose of organising a similar section m Hawera. There wag no desire to interfere with the unemployed’s social organisations, 'but there was a more serious question to deal with, that of industrial organisation. He had received instructions from the National Industrial Conference, held at Wellington, to endeavour to form the unemployed in Taranaki intoi air organisation for their own protection, and the Taranaki section would then become linked with similar sections throughout the Dominion.

The unemployed, he added, were the greatest economic force in the country to-day. The total of the unemployed as recorded -by the Labour Department was not a true indication of the position. Hundreds of single men were not included, hundreds of others had not registered as unemployed, and no mention was ever made of the number of unemployed women. The total at the present time would be over 100,000 and the latter estimate was based on the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates’ statement before lie left on his “joy ride to Ottawa.”

Mr Fulton mentioned that since the branch had been functioning in. New Plymouth no man had been “sacked” off a relief job, but he knew there bad been dismissals at Hawera. Such instances would be taken up by the organisation. Over 400 of the 600 unemployed in New Plymouth were members of the organisation and he was of the opinion that the majority in PTawera would also become members. He was assured that a branch would be formed at Patea, where a meeting was to he held at an early date, and also at Inglewood and Stratford. In an appeal to his hearers to join the branch lie declared that, to sum up the position the relief workers were not getting a. “fair go” from the Unemployment Board, and it was up to them to see that they obtained Hi decent standard of living.

Mr Ramsay said he contended that the unemployed of Hawera were well looked after hy the citizens of the town, who did their best for the men, and the conditions of unemployed in other centres might he totally different. The unemployed had their remedy in the ballot boxes, but the workers would never pull together. Following questions as to the administrative side of tho proposed branch, Mr A. Tregaweth moved and Mr E. Edwards seconded, that a- branch be formed at Hawera. The motion was carried, but only a section of the audience voted. The following officers were appointed: President, Mr A. Tregowetli; vicepresident. Mr. H. Wnrcup; secretary, Mr S. Tysoe: executive, Messrs E. Edwards, Faulkner, Davy and Lewis. Votes of thanks were accorded the speakers and the chairman.