MEN SEEKING WORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 15

MEN SEEKING WORE.

ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION{

PROCESSION IN 'QUEEN STREET*,'

"RIGHT TO WORK" DEMANDED*

A demonstration by unemployed ws.l witnessed in Queen Street yesterday forenoon. About 40 men marched in process sion from tho Government labour bureau in Customs Streot to the Trades Hall* where all they did was to obtain permission to use one of tlio meeting rooms for, tl>e discussion of their affairs on futura occasions.

Probably it will be so used this morning, It is the aim of two or three young men whose vigour gives them a certain amount of leadership to organise a daily; demonstration, the purpose being to proclaim their "right to work." The men have been requested to assemble at th» labour bureau at nine o'clock, the march to the Trades Hall being fixed- for tea o'clock.

Yesterday's demonstration was all tb* more arresting by reason of its silenc» and the complete absence of banners. Thai appearance of the men proclaimed theiif unemployed state. Under happier condi-* tions the bulk of them would havo been more or less sprucely dressed, but few, now have what use(f to be called a "best! suit." They were shabby and weather* beaten, and many looked as if they wer« not sufficiently nourished.

A Deserving Type

By no means, however, wpre they of the '•down-and-out" type, i'len of thafi class were conspicuous by their absences The average was of the hard-working class who loath the thought of charity* One man who spoke in an English county assent declared to a Herald representative that ho would rather starve than! take charity. There wero no old men.. A number were middle-aged, but mostl were on tho "sunny side" of the prim* of life. A few were in their early marx hood.

On such occasions one expects to find aggressive spirit among the men and almost challenging attitude toward th< public. But it was a silent march. Thay silence indicated the seriousness of theit plight, and gave a pathetic touch to th# v/hole thing. * "I?ight wheel" came the order in 4 voice that probably knew the army larvi guage, when the procession came to Welles ley Street, and that was all. Of course a sense of humour must out if the» opportunity presents itself and this happened outside St. Matthew's Church.. In the gutter lay some confetti. On», young man picked up a handful and ' sprinkled his neighbour, who gave a halfhearted sort of smile. At that, moment a Hindoo "bottlo-oh* drove by shouting his cry and a grin went through the ranks. Bureau System Condemned.

.At the Trades Hall the platoon talked on the pavement while leaders went in and arranged lor the use of a room. Man after man stated his case to the Herald representative. Bitterness, a natural product of worklessness. displayed itself, but there was none of the fiery unreasonable haranguing which is sometimes encountered.

One 'of the' chief complaints was tha system of the Government,labour bureau, whereby men must call daily, on the chance of a job turning up. "If one rolls up each morning he certainly cannot bo elsewhere hunting for himself," said one man, "and I think that there should bo a roster, so that the office could send a postcard to a man when his turn was about due. Then he could put in mora time looking for a job himself." "Some men can remain on relief work weok after week, while others are never given a chance," said another. "The system gives too wide an opportunity for favouritism. The purpose of relief is defeated if some are constantly engaged and others hardly ever." Country Relief Jobs. Some spoke of country relief jobs, de* daring that with broken time co-op era-« tive work rarely enabled a man to earn, enough to keep his wife and children in town. One young man said that he I Lad been on country jobs, but £2 a week was the best he had been able, to send his wife. The men blame the system, but, of course, it is possible that those who hnvo never been navvies before are simply square pegs in round holes when set t» work on rough road cuttings. "We all try to pick up a day's work; on the wharves," said another, "but, as you know, the Waterside Workors' Union - is a 'close corporation.' Now men cannot* join and so we cannot get a job if union-' ists are waiting. "The watorsiders call' us 'seagulls.' Wo gflt contempt from our' own class." Theso were typical statements. Nature , ally, one man's story is not always th»j whole story. One man,'for instance, eaid ; , that he declined road work in the where ho .could have had charge of a, gang, because the camp whs too wet and crude without means of drying clothing* But there was no doubting the earnestness of those men, most of whom arefacing teal adversity with stout hearts* They aro depressed, of course, but they are not whining. SHELTER FOR MEN. UNEMPLOYED IN AUCKLAND*.. GRANT. FROM GOVERNMENT. | fur tki.kuhapii.---sprciai, \V KU.I X(» TON", ThuWiUr. A grant of £l5O toward tha support v>6 the men's shelter in federal Stmt, Awete* land, is to be made by the according to a promise made by the Primw Minister, Sir ovoph in the Ite* The manor was . raised by Mr. \V. K* Parry Auckland Central), wh« addressed the. Miowiug urgent question u> she Prime Ministers ill view of the .vntmned serious position among Auckland's unemployed, the Primo Minister will say whether he has received: any reply to bis inquiry from the Aucfc-* land Hospital Hoard \\\ the matter o( thm Auckland doss house." Mr. Parry r<n called that, joint representations on th«* • matter were made to the Prime Minister by Auckland members some time ago.. ""1 have received a reply to-day, ' ro-> plied the. Prime Minister. Ho said a granH of £2OO had been made by the Government last May and a further grant ot} £l5O wovdd now bo made. It was considered the stun would be sufficient foij tho needs of the season.