REPLY TO HOME PROTECTION LEAGUE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 257, 29 September 1932, Page 12

REPLY TO HOME PROTECTION LEAGUE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —On September 23 a note appeared in the “Standard” under a letter signed by the officials of the Home Protection League. This notice called upon the Unemployed Workers’ Movement to state the charges levelled against it by the league. The Home Protection League, being in essence a political organisation, is by innuendo and other methods not averse to laying charges of a subversive character against a non-political, non-sectarian workers’ organisation that aims to unite the workers in their claims for recognition of their immediate needs, and is so constituted, as to give control entirely to the membership on all questions, thus preventing the use of the organisation by individuals and parties whose sole concern is to make political capital from their participation in the movement. At a meeting of the league in the Kosy Hall on September 14 a statement was made that the U.W.M. was organising a stoppage of work for the purpose of creating a situation that might bring about a riot. As we have in the ranks of the U.W.M. the intelligentsia from the ranks of the relief workers, wo trust that you will grant us sufficient space to outline a brief history of the recent expression of discontent among react workers, a careful perusal of which, when linked up with actual occurrences, is a complete _ refutation or the charges of violent intention made against the U.W.M. In response to an appeal from the Pahiatua single men who were opposed to entering camps, a meeting was convened by the U.W.M. on September 6. The single men present elected, a committee to define a line of action, and a further meeting was called lor September 9, when a report from this committee was considered and a mass meeting was mooted for September 12. At the usual meeting of the U.W.M. on September 11 Mr Christensen, of the Home Protection League, asked permission to address the meeting in an unofficial capacity. His request was acceded to, and in the course of his remarks he claimed that if the league was not prepared to co-operate with the U.W.M. on the question of camps, then he would be finished with the league. He invited delegates to the meeting of his organisation to be held that night. In view of the fact that a mass meeting had already been called by the single and married men’s committees, we advised the executive of tire league that the U.W.M. would support the action to be taken on the Monday morning, and that we would be pleased to send a delegate to the next general meeting of the league. This is in conformity with the U.W.M. policy of first and always to the rank and file of any workers’ organisation. The meeting on the Monday morning decided on admass deputation to the Unemployment Committee as a protest against the camp schemes. This deputation was orderly and well organised, and immediately after this business had been executed a meeting was carried on by th© workers in the hJill in Jersey Lane. At this meeting the question of the new rates to be introduced on September 19 was discussed, and the workers present decided to oppose their introduction, and a meeting of all relief workers was called for September 15 On this date delegates from both the U.W.M. and the league were invited to a special meeting of the Inemployment Committee to hear the lenort of a special deputation to the Unemployment Board. The U.W.M. delegates would not enter into any discussion relative to the new rates, as. they were pledged to support the decisions of tho workers in this respect, and as the Unemployment Committee was apparently desirous of carrying out the wishes of the Unemployment Board, the UAV M delegates withdrew, after lepoated efforts to get a definite answer from the committee. The meeting hall on Thursday night was full to overflowing and the position was clearly outlined to the workers nresent If any of the league officials were present, they were conspicuous by their silence, either circumstance being a peculiar indication of their alleged intention to assist tho workers in their troubles. The workers at this meetmg almost unanimously declared against the new schemes and elected a strike committee. This committee convened & further mass meeting for September IJ, from which meeting a further deputation interviewed the Unemployment Committee. Peaceful picketing was introduced in order that all I'elief woikers should be made conversant with the situation. This was made most necessary because of an advertisement in the local papers on the previous Saturday winch called on all relief workers to go to work as usual. Tins advertisement was over the signature of two officials of the league and, whether intended in the interests of the workers concerned or otherwise, was nevertheless a direct negation of the expiessed intention of a considerable number of these workers. Tho U.W.M. is prepared to admit that the action was well considered but ill-prepared by the workers concerned, but repudiates any suggestion that any individual or individuals within the U.W.M. were mainly res^j. av!m .' Publicity o committee .