STARVATION FOR UNEMPLOYED STRIKERS

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6840, 22 April 1932, Page 6

STARVATION FOR UNEMPLOYED STRIKERS

Desperate Situation at Huntly GRANT BY CHARITABLE AID BOARD Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Last Night,

Stating that the Government had not handled the position diplomatically and the blame was attachable to them or the Government omcials regarding tho relief workers’ strike at Huntly, Mr. G. Smith at the Waikato Hospital Board to-day appealed for immediate food supplies. Ho hinted that 300 families were starving in Huntly. “This is a. most extraordinary position,’’ said the chairman, Mr. J. J. Kyburn. “The unemployed have been offered work and they refuse it. The work they object to lias been waived and other work is offering. I hope this trouble of unemployed organising and directly putting obstacles in the way of many men anxious to work will not be permanent. It seems to me to bo tending towards tho dole which they say they are entitled to. “If wo grant this amount it looks as though we are in favour of the strike. By' law wc as a charitable aid board must provide food for those in want. It is difficult to know what is best to do. I feel wo should assist the women and children. We should at the same time appeal to tho unemployed to take up the work offering.’’ Mr. H. W. Wilson (Raglan) said h 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 o- £BS for food with the . intimation that it could grant no further help, at the samo time appealing to the men to accept the further work offering,