"WE WANT WORK!"

Mataura Ensign, 23 July 1909, Page 3

"WE WANT WORK!"

♦ A CHRISTCHURCH SCENE. UNEMPLOYED METHODS. VgM UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23 At half-past ten a.m. to-day several of the leaders of the unemployed gathered in Cathedral Squaro with spades and a banner on which w,-.s inscribed "Wo want work." Soon n crowd gathered and two constables found that the crowd was attracting more people. The constables naked for the ringleader and wero told that it was nothing but a body of men combined to hold a demonstration for tho purposo of obtaining work. The constables said no procession conld march without a permit from tlv? City Council, and if they did march a prosecution would follow. The men clodded fo approach the Council, whose officers informed them that no permit would be available for some .days. Then they decided to parade the st roots anil i chance arrest.

One man said if ho >vaß put in ga< 1 tho Government would ii.i o to koep him, which was just as wad as doing nothing outside. The constables took the imhik'k of four men in tho event of the procos-sio.i I eing held. The men said tho procession would occur in spite of the by-lav. - . Returning to the Square a large crowd gathered and one man, mounting a packing-case, said it was impossible to get a permit- trom tho city inspector, who said a permit would be available if tho Mayor were interne,ved. At twelve o'clock the men decided in apply for one. and if it was not granixl they intend to hold a procssirou all the same. They then decided to meet fgain at two o'clock. Tho Mayor granted the unemployed a permit for the procession, conditionally on no banners beyond that with "We want work" being carried, and that the procession was conducted in an orderly fashion. THE GOVERNMENT'S PART.

CHRISTCHOR CH, July 23. Mr church North) has received a telegram from tho lion. James Carroll (ActingPrimo Minister) in reply to tho request to the Government to help the Christchurch unemployed stating that the Government eoulrl not subsidise local works, but was doing the best it could as far as public works were concerned. He had also referred tho question of tho local works mentioned to tho Minister for Public "Works (Hon. R. Mclienzie). Mil McKENZIE SPEAKS OUT. FEB united prkbs association. WELLINGTON, July 22. Replying to a deputation who complained about the cessation of works in the Wanganui district, the Hon. R. McKenzio said that ho agreed as to the urgency of opening up Government land, but he was not going to start public works simply to provide einploymoiit for workers. This cry had been tried on him several times bcioro in other places, but thev wero not going to force tho Government's hand in any way. Any work which could be provided legitimately would bo dono if tho money wero furnished.