UNEMPLOYED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 252, 21 September 1933, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Several correspondents under the signatures of nom-de-pllime-citi-zen, etc., show they have very little concept and very little sympathy with or knowledge of the lot of the relief worker. Perhaps they may be forgiven for this not knowing that it is through the actions of themselves and the system that there are any unemployed. Therefore it is pure impertinence on their part to try and define the position and the struggle the unemployed are faced with in an endeavour to exist. We who know our position can but judge their outburst as such. The deputation that waited on the Central Relief Committee, backed up by a good majority of the relief workers in a signed petition, are still waiting for tho reason why this committee define that the relief worker should be compelled to work for the rations and - clothes distributed by them. Enough is to say that it is both demoralising and humiliating to be forced to work for charity. What the unemployed want is the right to work, but work at trade union rates of pay, and not for cha-rity. We are denied the right to work as free citizens, but compelled to work as slaves for the discards of the master. The whole system is full of contradictions, the most forceful being that men are working under an organised system of charity while the stores and warehouses are full to bursting. If your correspondents will peruso carefully the letter over our signature in regard to working for rations they will find our reasoned statement in relation to this matter. If they wish to give a reply for the action of the Central Relief Committee, then we feel sure they are at liberty to do so, and will the relief worker correspondents tell us more clearly their reasons why they want to work for this surplus food and clothing. Perhaps the Central Relief Committee would thank them for their suggestions. The matter of the relief workers being better off than your “Citizen Correspondent” is too rediculous for comment. —We are, etc., PUBLICITY COMMITTEE, Unemployed Workers’ Movement.