"THE RIGHT TO WORK."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 14

"THE RIGHT TO WORK."

MARCH OF UNEMPLOYED.

TWO MORE DEMONSTRATIONS

SILENT PROTEST IN CITY.

Another demonstration by the unemployed was made in tho city yesterday forenoon, sonio 40 men marching from tho Government labour bureau to tho Trades Hall, via Qucon and Wollesley Streets. They represented only a fraction of the men out of work, and only a portion of tho morning's callors at tho bureau.

Numbers refuso to register their claim for tho "right to work" in this manner. Most of thoso in tho procession had no greater desire so to appear in public, but did so only because they felt that such demonstrations are necessary to arrfuse public opinion on tho question of unemployment,

One man who addressed tho waiting crowd gave a political bias to his remarks and talked about the need to "change tho system," but most of tho men were more concerned about changing enforced idleness to work than changing tho "system." One agreed that that sort of talking did no good. Another remarked that tho problem was national and therefore one for Parliament.

"Wo are self-respecting citizens who want work," said one of the leaders, when asking tho men to fall into ranks. "Nono of us likes doing this sort of thing, but it is up to every man who is sincero to join in and show tho public how bad

things are." Nevertheless, numbers drifted off. They could not get away from tho common instinct which keeps most men out of the limelight.

Many Trades Represented.

A fair number of the men were young, and tlio rest typical family men. Most woro tho garments of toil, and they looked a likely lot for any rough job. All kinds of trades woro represented, but during tho last year or two they have turned their hands to many things. Ono man who is a painter by trade has recently had casual work as a motor-lorry driver, and he has also been a treo planter on tho Ivaingaroa Plains. One man referred to a suggestion made in the Herald yesterday that possibly tho reason why somo could not make wages under tho co-operative system on relief works was becauso they were not skilled navvies, and might be square pegs in round holes. Against this be quoted the experience of a man on tho Waipoua job who had. been a navvy all his life. The best, ho had been able to earn thero was 9s 6d a day, and he said the feeling was that tho department was deliberately restricting earnings.

Change in System Wanted.

At the Trades Hall a meeting was held, at which resolutions were carried drawing the attention of tho Prime Minister to tho extreme position in regard to unemployment, and requesting a change in tho system followed at tho Government labour bureau so that tho hours for distributing work should bo from 8.30 to 11 a.m., so that callers would bo able to hunt round the city for work afterwards, without running the risk of losing a chanco at the bureau.

Mr. E. J. Phelan, secretary of tho Timber Workers' Union, contended that men upon registering should receivo a number entitling them to a job in rotation, thus obviating tho possibility of favouritism.

Tho men elected n committee consisting of Messrs. J. Baker, president, R. J. C. Groves, W. J. Molloy (secretary), T. Wood, A. Lawson, G. Dix, W. F. Miller, J. Bracewell and W. Ward.

Another procession was arranged for the evening. At 8 p.m. 30 men assembled at tho labour bureau and marched through Queen Street and Karangahapo Road. Although showers wero frequent, and tho majority of tho men wero without overcoats, they were not deterred, and marched up Queen Street m an orderly manner. They attracted considerable attention.