RELIEF WORKERS’ STRIKE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 121, 22 April 1932, Page 3

RELIEF WORKERS’ STRIKE.

POSITION AT HUNTLY. HAMILTON, April 21. Stating that the Government had not handled the position diplomatically and that the blame was attachable to them or tho Government officials regarding the relief workers’ strike at Huntly, Mr G. Smith, at a meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board to-day, appealed for immediate food supplies. He hinted that 300 families were starving in Huntly. “This is a most extraordinary position,” said the chairman, Mr J. J. Ryburn. “The unemployed have been offered work and they refuse it. The work they object to has been waived and other work is offering. I hope that this trouble of the unemployed organising and directly putting obstacles in the way of many men anxious to work will not he permanent. It seems to me to bo tending toward the dole, which, they say they are entitled to. “If we grant this amount it looks as though we aro in favour of the strike. By law we ns a charitable aid board must provide food for those in want. It is difficult to know what is the best to do. I feel that we should assist tho women and children. We should at the same-time appeal to the unemployed to take up the work offerin#.” Mr H. W. Wilson (Raglan) said that ho was opposed to the strike and was not in favour of granting the strikers one penny. The position regarding the wives and families was different. The board decided to make a grant of £BS for food with the intimation that it could grant no further help, at the same time appealing to tho men to accept the further work offering.