UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1932, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT

MEETING AT HOKITIKA. LOCAL SECRETARY CRITICISED DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED. A large meeting of unemployed was held at Hokitika, last evening when Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., was present by invitation, as also wore the two workers’ representatives <tu the Local Unemployment Committee, Mr McGavin and Mr H. Harvey. General matters affecting the unemployed in Hokitika and district were discussed at length. Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed over the way the work in Hokitika was being distributed, several speakers holding that the 'Secretary took too much power unto himself, and that 'there was discrimination 'So far as the number of days allotted to each man wa. s concerned. i

Another speaker held that the Secretary interpreted the instructions to his own satisfaction, and that in the allocation of work single men had been cut *SO per cent. for. the past eight or nine months, and also that the married men, in most cases, did not g'-'t the number of days /they should get undo the No. Five Scheme. The speaker pointed, out that if the men obtained the days they were entitled to, the total amount of wages received would not be more than bare sustenance.

It was unanimously resolved that the meeting pass the following recommendation : “That, a 9 it is quite obvious none of the unemployed are getting sufficient days per week, therefore, if tUf number of days allotted have to be cut down through lack of funds, a)) sections be treated alike; this resolution to be presented to the Local Committee ; and that the Member for the District be requested to convey the same to the Minister for Unemployment.” Several speakers, expressed dissatisfaction- because single men were cut to one day per week and three days men to one day and a-half, whereas those working, for the Westland County were receiving the full time set out under No. 5 Scheme. ’ Another speaker stated he was a married man working for the county, and -was entitled to three days per vi-eek, and for four months he had only received two days per week. Previou & to . the holidays he was given an extra day. -Another married man with one child, stated; he was working alongside a single man with no dependents. Each of them received two days per week,, This was in work carried out in the County. Several of those present expressed indignation because it was given out that if a man who was registered as unemployed were able to secure a day’s work in a, week, he obtained a day’s less- wq»k ? -»nder the Scheme, It was pointed out that H a single man obtained 9s per day for three days per month, the amount was 27s per month, which was absolutely an insufficient sum on which to exist, aud yet .he was to be debarred from the benefits of the No, 5 Shceme if lie accepted ah extra- day’ s work from a " private employer, Speakers also pointed out that there- were • no. seasonal occupations here as in others parts of the Dominion,

It was resolved that a committee of three Is> appointed from the meeting for the purpose of waiting on the Local Unemployment Committee, and placing before the members matters affecting men working und-er No. 5 Scheme ; also of urging that an equal division of relief be given and if necessary examining vouch.rs to see that there was no discrimination. The following were selected to act on the Committee: Messrs S. Baird, J. Duncan, and B. Biddulph. Speakers condemned the practice of compelling tradesmen to work at their trade for the relief rate off wages, and held that, if such work were to be done, the local body ben-firing by ;the work should subsidise the relief wages by bringing thp amount up to award rates.

The practice of compelling single men to go into the camps was also condemned, several of those present stating there were a number ol returned soldiers unemployed who were suffering from war disability, and who could not possibly stand camp life and conditions. Attention was re,ailed ! to ithe diaet that not. every man who was unemployed was a trained navvy or bushman, and that, if men were to be refused work because of their 'inexperience in the use of pick and shovel, a grave injustice would be perpetuated.

It wflc- resolved thait it be a recommendation to the Local Committto allow men allotted work to start early in the week so as to enable them to get in their days in fine weather ; and that the V estland Hospital Board be asked to apply to the Government for funds tor the relief of necessitous cases ot hardship duo to unemployed. It was resolved that, the Unemployment Board be requested to have a Civil Servant appointed as Secretary to ithe Local Committee, a,s in othei places. It was decided that the Committee appointed take steps to have the resolutions passed by the meeting

conveyed to the bodies or persons concerned. A -hearty vote of thanks, carried with acclamation, was tendered to -Mr O’Brien, .U.P., for his attendance and advice. The vote was responded to by Mr lO’Brien who stated it was merely hi s -duty. He was only too pleased to help them in any way. DEMONSTRATION AT DUNEDIN. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) DUNEDIN, January 18. In connection with the recent unemployed riots, several who were arrested were charged at the Court today. The caise for the- prosecution was completed. Evidence was/ given by the accused, who contended that they were merely acting as representatives of the hungry unemployed and had at no time attempted to urge me crowd to violence. They maintained, on the contrary, that, had it not Been for their efforts, a much more -serious state of affairs might have developed. At 6.30 p.m. the Court adjourned till 9 a.m. to-morrow. CONDITIONS AT WELLINGTON. THREATS BY COMMUNISTS. WELLINGTON, January 18. Threats that the section of unemployed which they led word’d have to resort to direct action to obtain food clothing, and shelter were made By Communists speakers at a second deputation received by the Minister in Charge of Unemployment (the Right Hon, J, G. Coates) and Minister of Health (the Hon. J, A. Young) yesterday. The deputation included about 8000 men, women, and children, who marched to Parliament- House carrying banners, and held a preliminary meeting outside the Bowen street door.

A large number of constables controlled the movements of this gathering, representing the United Workers’ Movement, which has broken aw»y from the General Labourers’ Union. The speakers paid practically no attention to the two Ministers, and addressed themselves to the- large gathering in the Social Room, only at times turning to the table to threaten direct action in the event of no satisfaction being had. - Mr T. Kelly complained at the outset that the relief workers had to pay the levy, otherwise they would be given no work. “The unemployed to-day cannot afford to pay,” he declared amid cheers and prolonged applause. The Unemployment Act was passed to give sustenance, and when the men were out of work they should receive sustenance-. The Government should carry out the full provisions of the Act, in spite of the Prime Minister’s declaration that there would ,ba,no pay with-, out work. No excuse would justify the men going without food, and it was the duty of the Government to produce the money. There was uproar when the speaker declared: “We want to impress on you the seriousness of the position, and that as- unemployed men you cannot expect us to lie down quietly and take these things. If these is money to be got there is plenty of scope for the 'Government to get it. Instead of reducing the money of relief workers, who not reduce the money of those getting over £500?” ■ “We have gone past- the stage when we come and beg,” declared Mr Sanford. “We have come now to •dspiand that you do something for us.” This was greeted by applause, and there were continual bursts of approval as the speaker expressed the opinion that the, Government was forcing the men into prison because it wae not giving them the necessaries of life. The “comrade” who had just spoken had been served with a summons for saying what he wanted to, and the two Ministers present would be acting in the interests of the workers if they did everything to see that a summons was withdrawn by January 29th. Huge sums were being spent on the -police force to protect what the workers produced; but if this money were spent on the workers there would he no need for toe police. (Cheers.)

“The workers’ conditions are abominable,” said Mr Turner. “I do not want to lead you down the street and break windows,’ he said, turning to the men and women in the room, “but if by dire necessity you must eat, then you must —”

The rest of the sentence was lost in a storm of cheering, and the speaker concluded by an ardent appeal to those present to force the Government into action.

Mr Horsful, secretary of the movement, was greeted with uproarous applause, when lie announced that if nothing were done for the workless, they would have to take it into their own hands and secure satisfaction. There was further prolonged applause when he added: “Mr Coates is getting £IOOO a year, and yet lie has the cheek to tell us to go out on relief works at 37s 6d.”

This brought an immediate protest from the Minister, who told the speaker in a quiet voice that ho could gain nothing by such tactics There were shouts of, “The truth hurts” from some women, and men counselled the speaker to “let him have it.” The speaker struck a- defiant attitude, leaning over the table toward Mr Coates, and when loud jeering and booing had subsided, he declared: “Anyhow, people I am going to go on.” He concluded by announcing: “If the unemployed cannot get food they will have to take it.”

Mr Coateg said that he had alwoys

made it a practice to meet all classes of the community and endeavour to become acquainted with their conditions, and that if he were ready to meet them at any time they should at least give him as fair a hearing as lie had given them. The problems of the unemployed where everyone’s problems and the whole question was how far they could utilise the country’s resources to provide the fullest measure of return, and at the same time provide relief for those in need. A statement had been made that the people could not get the necessaries of life, but the Board had only so much money at its disposal, and the unemployed were receiving every penny of it. The money received was clearly insufficient to meet all cases of hardship. There had been references lately to “slave camps,” in criticism of single men’s camps, but the question was whether it was possible to put everyone on to standard rates of pay.

“I am bound to tell you, with due respect to your opinion, that it is not possible to do it,” Mr Coates added. “I say that quite definitely, although the claim lias been made that it is possible.” It was lor the unemployed to cooperate in the plans made for their assistance, said Mr The amount being spent by the Board was £50,000 a week; but if the full provisions of the Act were to be applied as far as sustenance payments were concerned, it would require £85,000 a week. The unemployed could rest assured that everything possible would be done for them, Parliament would be meeting shortly, and unemployment ldief would be gone into, in the meantime a plan for future action was being evolved, and it would be completed shortly, One of the speakers secured an assurance that no one who had attended the meeting would be victimised.

Mr Coates said he did net agree with one or two suggestions about direct action, which was a very dangerous attitude to adopt. Apait from that he could not see that anything had been said to warrant victimisation.

A large crowd was again addressed outside the building By speakers when the deputation concluded, and the Ministers spent some time in earnest conversation with many who remained. Those outside were counselled to force the Government to take action, and to meet again to map out a campaign. WORKLESS IN EUROPE. ALARMING INCREASE IN FRANCE LONDON, January 18. The “Daily Mail’s” Geneva correspondent says: The International Labour Office is shortly issuing a- warning against any undue expectation of an parly recovery in. world Itrade. The Office states that even if, ns some think the cyclical depression has touched bottom it is l -still over early to predict any improvement. Great Britain, where unemployment is steadily falling, is one nation that- apparently is improving. The French unemployment, however, has increased by over five hundred per cent., as compared with 193 ft. Accepting the official figure, which is far below the actual total, the unemployment has increased in Germany, by thirty-four oer cent., and in Belgium 118 per cent. The renort estimates the European unemployed at nine million. In the United States the total is ten millions.