UNEMPLOYMENT IN CHRISTCHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 26 June 1926, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT IN CHRISTCHURCH

"A SINISTER MOVEMENT" TQQ MqOH COMMUNIST ELEMENT (United Preaa Asaociatiou.) OHRISTCHURCH, June 2.'.. i '"I will ask the Trades Hall people to get to work and kick these people out. Otherwise I will get out. If you don't kick these people out, you can get another secretary," so declared Mr R. B. Owen, secretary of the Citizens' Unemployment, Committee yesterday, in emphatic objection to what lie described as a "sinister Communistic movement'" in connection with unemployment.

The committee had met to discuss the unemployment position generally and after other business had been disposed of Mr Owen voiced his objection, and asked if it was true that Mr S. Founder, leader of the Communist Party in Christehureh, was in the pay of union secretaries. After some discussion the subject was deferred for a week. Mr Owen said there was a "sinister little moce" on foot to checkmate life Citizens' Committee and undermine it. At the present time there was too much of the Commtinist element. He understood that that morning there was an attempt to organise a parade, which would not have helped things. Th'j Trades Hall people should consider what was done in Auckland, where Communists were kicked out. The Trades Hall officials should declare what their position was. The Mayor of Christehureh (the Rev. J. K. Archer) said that the position was simple. There was a proper committee of Trades Hall secretaries, who acted for the Trades Hall. The gentlemen who were acting as an unofficial committee had no connection with the Trades Hall, other than that they had a room at the hall. As he understood the position, tliey were acting in a purely private and individual way. They could not be proveilttod from meeting and expressing their opinions on a public issue. Tf they liked tp have a parade, which he considered a very undesirable thing, the Citizens' Committee had no say in it. The position had been explained at the last meeting of the Citizens' Committee, but he invited Mr Ellis to explain it again. Mr C, R. Ellis, trade union secretary, said there were responsible officials at the Trades Hall, who were formed into a Trades Hall Committee. No notice reed be taken of anything done outside of that. If the Citizens' Committee took notice of every little paragraph 1 in the papers, or any little group of men, it would get nowhere. If it- wanted to know of any policy, if should go to the Trades Hall Committee. There were about 100 men in a meeting at the hall that day. The easiest way and best way out of the difficulty was to> get work for the men. Mr Owen: "Is it correct or not correct that Mr Founder is in the pay of the trades unio'i secretaries? We don't want any misunderstanding about that point. We are out to help when there is distress. Now we have the Communist group trading on this committee. I will ask the Trades Hall people to get to work and kick these people out, otherwise I will get out. What can they achieve? Do they want no work between meals? Nobody has been treated in a more brotherly spirit than the unemployed in Christehureh. If you don't kick :hese people out, you can get another secretary."

Mr Ellis said the Citizens' Committee started over a week ago to do something for the men,, but in the meantime something had to be done 1 for necessitous cases. Someone was wauled to distribute food and necessaries. Mr Fournier was there, and he was put in charge. Hj had to live, and it was not desired .to pay him out of any funds. Each trade union secretary paid 2/6 out of his own pocket last week to Fournier. He was not on regular pay. Mr H. Worrell, trades union secretary, said that there was no Communist Committee. Some time ago there was started in the newspapers a heresy .hunt of one or two individuals. Mr Fournier was selling newspapers, and he said he would take on the job of distributing food if any money he lost Were made up to him. Mi' Owen said that they should let Mr Fournier go back to" his work. Either he went or the speaker resigned. The Mayor pointed out that the Communists had withdrawn from the Labour Party. The man referred to had no influence in the Labour Party or in the city. The Citizens' Committee should ignore the question. Mr E. H. Marriner suggested that the easiest way out was for the Trades Hall people to employ someone else. There were many other men who could be employed. If the committee was being antagonised to a certain extent, the man should go back to selling newspapers, and someone else should be employed.

Mr Klhs suggested that the discussion be adjourned for a week, and after Mr Oweii had agreed, it was adjourned accordingly. There are three unemployment organisations in Christchurch at present, the Citizens' Unemployment Committee (a representative body which controls the expenditure of" money subscribed by the public), the Trades Hall Unemployment Committee (which consists of trade union secretaries), and a committee of the unemployed (of which the Communist leader, Mr Fournier, is 'secretary and organiser). All these bodies held meetings to-day, but the only one open to newspaper representatives was that of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee. Meetings of the unemployed ale not open to the Press, as the result of a decision of a majority of the committee, but notice of motion hail been given that the resolution be rescinded. The Trades Hall Unemployment Committee has appointed a subcommittee to supply reports to the newspapers.