FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 108, 7 April 1932, Page 8

FEILDING

W.E.A. ADDRESS.,

Some aspects of the position of New Zealand in relation to the war in the Far East were given by Mr J. A. Brailstord in a lecture to the W.E.A. oil Tuesday night. It was suggested on the cne hand, said Mr Brailsford, that Japan should be allowed to proceed with her aggression in Manchuria so that she might not turn her eyes towards Australia and New Zealand ; the Japanese delegate to the League of Nations, Mr Sato, had declared that his nation had a right to fend for herself in the Ear East, as she was excluded from America and these Dominions. On the other hand, leaders of the League of Nations Union, including Lord Robert Cecil, and Professor Gilbert Murray, had written to the London Times a warning that, if Japan were allowed to pursue a career of conquest in China, she would not stop there, but would become a menace to Australia and New Zealand. We were also concerned over tho danger of a world war, which might easily arise over the clashing of Japanese and Russian interests in Manchuria.

Tire lecturer traced the struggle between Russia and Japan, and outlined the disputes between Japan and China leading to the recent warfare. The Japanese had been absurdly inconsistent in some of their excuses for making this war, which, they declared, was not a war. However, their strong argument appeared to be that they were acting simply as other great imperial nations had done and were doing—that they were bestowing on Manchuria the same benefits as British rule had brought to India: peace and order and development, and security from Russian invasion. So they claimed the sympathy of British people. The League of Nations had failed to take any strong stand regarding Japan’s aggression, the traditions of the “old diplomacy” having still a powerful hold. But the League was of immense value in ensuring that these disputes should be discussed publicly around a table at Geneva, and not left to the intrigues of secret diplomacy. Besides the League was building peace and international cooperation by its work for health, for the protection of women and children, and for better factory, conditions. It could hardly attain its full possibilities without new leadership, and it was a matter of concern for each one of us to see that our leaders were chosen, not on cheap catch-cries, but on capacity and character. We were faced in these days also with the individual choice between peace and war and with the question of New Zealand’s policy towards Eastern peoples. It was well to reason together about such vital concerns.

The lecturer showed still pictures of Japan, Manchuria and Shanghai. The president (Mr A. J. Humphreys), in welcoming Mr Brailsford’s return, expressed the hope that there would be a growing interest in his series of lectures on “Tile World After the War,” to be given fortnightly. ANNUAL MEETING OF BRANCH. Following 3lr Brailsford’s address, the annual meeting of the branch was held when officers were elected as under: —President, Mr Humphreys; vice-presidents, Messrs L. J. Wild and W. G. Snort; secretary, Miss I. Mayo; committee, Mesdames Walpole, Stevens, Dowrick, Fairweather, Short and Ross, and Messrs Fairweather, McDowall, Jones, Wilson and Ross. RELIEF WORKERS’ MOVEMENT. A general meeting of the Feilding relief workers’ movement was held last night, there being a large attendance. A considerable discussion took place in connection with a letter forwarded by Hop. J. G. Cobbe, the letter being a reply received by Mr Cobbe from Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Unemployment, regarding the representations made to him by Mr Cobbe after the latter had received a deputation of Feilding relief workers, when several irregularities under which the local men contended they were working were ventilated. The reply of Mr Coates to Mr Cobbe was as follows:

“Regarding the representations made to you in connection with the amount of relief work received by the relief workers in Feilding in comparison to that received by relief workers elsewhere, I have to inform you that full inquiries have been made into the matter. The position is that the Feilding allocation is based strictly in conformity with the number of eligible men <?n the register there and allowance is also made for the relative portion of the three classes of men—fourday men, three-day, two-day—to be provided for. The allocation granted represents the highest sum it is possible to make to that centre at the present time, having regard to the limited funds available. With regard to Taihape, I wish to say that this centre’s allocation is not computed on a higher basis than Feilding’s. It is pointed out that, while funds are provided to the extent that finances permit, the actual distribution of relief is left to local unemployment committees, who in actual practice adopt different methods of rationing the relief work in order to meet the varying local conditions. As regards the question of residential qualifications of workers, I have to advise that local unemployment committees have discretionary power with respect to those to whom they grant relief, but, if their lists of unemployed are augmented by men from other districts they must adopt what measures appear to them best suited to meet the local conditions. If in opinion of the Feilding Unemployment Committee a two weeks’ residential qualification is considered reasonable for adoption, then it is not the intention of the Unemployment Board to interfere in any way with the period fixed by them. Neither the board nor the local Unemployment Committee has, of course, any control over men who travel from place to place in the hope of obtaining some employment more attractive than relief work.” Tko meeting considered that the reply hardly covered the points raised and it was decided to strongly protest against the local Unemployment Committee being allowed to place the three months’ residential clause into operation on the unemployed. A letter to this effect is to be sent to both Mr Coates and Mr Cobbe. _ The matter of boot repairing and similar subjects was investigated by the committee. and it was decided to make an application to the local committee to allow this work to be done on the same lines as is being carried out at Wellington and Masterton. To enable the local business people to fully appreciate the difficulties and points of view of the unemployed in regard to their weekly ration of work and payment for same, it was decided that a deputation should wait on the Feilding Chamber of Commerce and explain the position of relief workers. Strong exception was taken to an incorrect report which had appeared in a morning paper circulating in the district to the effect that the Feilding Relief Committee was storing food and clothing for distribution among the unemployed during the winter months.

It was pointed out that whilst the committee was endeavouring to collect firewood for use later, no such accumulation of food and clothing was taking place and the spreading of such incorrect reports was designed to draw greater number of relief workers to the town. Notification, was received at the meeting that Mr W. Olliver is to give an address on general unemployment matters at a date to be arranged.