Anti-Camp Council Meets

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7493, 18 June 1934, Page 10

Anti-Camp Council Meets

OFFICIAL ATTITUDE TO STREET ! PARADES CENSURED A meeting of the Anti-Camp Council was held last Friday evening. The report of the deputation which waited on the Mayor in regard to extra rations on the stand-down 'week was received. A schedule of the proposed ration allowance from the Central Relief Committeo was tabled, and it was !proposed to submit this to the mass meeting on Tuesday next. The question of demanding from the Minister of Justice an inquiry into the alleged tactics of the police at the demonstration was discussed, and it was agreed to send a copy of the letter to the Minister to the Press for publication. It was reported that mounted troops had paraded the town in connection with their activities at tho winter show, and also that Massey College students had circled part of the town on a motor-truck on their capping day. This was considered to be partial treatment by the authorities in allowing this and at the same time prohibiting the unemployed processions. It was considered that the Anti-Camp Council should protest to the Minister of Justice and the City Council on the matter. The letter to lion. J. G. Cobbe reads as follows:—“We wish to draw your attention to tho tactics of the police in Palmerston North on Saturday, June 9, in their intervention of a peaceful deputation of relief workers who were proceeding to tho Labour Bureau and the Mayor to present their demands. The police concentrated an imposing force, and in tho event of any disorderliness w r ould have been well able to cope with it. Notwithstanding this, their action can only be described ns intimidating, and the arrest of certain unemployed workers arose out of this. A number of citizens who were going about their business were also subject to the police action. We fee] that as respectablo citizens this action of the police was not warranted, and with restraint on their part many unwarranted incidents would not have taken place. We demand, sir, that you as Minister of Justice institute an inquiry into this matter. In asking this we do so believing it to bo in tho best interests of public morality. ’ ’ RELIEF WORKERS MEET A mass meeting of relief workers was held on Thursday to receive the report of the Anti-Camp Council. It was stated that representatives from two trade unions had been appointed to the council. A report was given of the representations to the Central Relief Committee through tho Mayor in relation to the demand that rations be equivalent to relief allocation plus rations already being received, this to be provided without working for same. The Mayor had verbally advised that the rations wmuld bo increased, though not to the extent of the demand, and notification would bo given later in this respect. A delegation was appointed to wait on the Mayor after the meeting for the purpose of obtaining tho definite information which lie promised. It was decided that the Minister of Justice bo written to demanding an inquiry bo instituted into the tactics adopted by the polico and tho manner in which both women and children were allegedly treated in the demonstration, and that witnesses be called to give evidence. A deputation has been appointed to wait on the City Council this evening at 8 o’clock to protest against the use of City Council cars and drivers to convey arrested men to prison. The following appeared in the Otago Daily Times on Juno 7: —■ Mr F. Jones, M.P., communicated with the Minister of Employment (Hon. A. Hamilton) last week on matters bearing on relief camps. The following is tho telegram Mr Jones forwarded to the Minister: “Understand from Press reports that men in'Palmerston North will not bo forced into ■camp. If no work offering sustenance will be granted. During the last month B men have been re-examined, and those who have been classed fit ordered into camp. A number have gone into Ida Valley and. .this camp is now filled. Local bureau forcing men into other camps. The men who have refused camp are denied work or sustenance. Will you instruct local office that camp work uill be voluntary and that ail men shall be given relief work locally, if offering?” Mr Jones received the following:— “Replying to your telegram the position in Dunedin is not analogous with that in Palmerston North. In the latter ease action in offering ramp jobs to tiie men is being withheld for a reasonable time. When tho work is offered, refusal to accept would carry the same penalty ns Dunedin. In the case of Dunedin the offering of camp jobs was withheld for a period longer than is proposed with respect to Palmerston North, so as to give the men the same opportunity of filling them voluntarily, as is being done in Palmerston North.”