UNEMPLOYED MENACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21251, 3 August 1932, Page 11

UNEMPLOYED MENACE

OTTAWA DEMONSTRATORS ASSEMBLY AT THE CAPITAL FORMULATION OF DEMANDS LIKELIHOOD OF A CLASH By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright OTTAWA, Aug. 1 A Workers' Economic Conference is to be held at Ottawa to-morrow with a demonstration in Market Squarq. Seven hundred men, mostly unemployed, with a small proportion of war veterans, together with some of their wives and members of their families, have assembled from all parts of Canada, and are encamped round a disused gai'agc near tho railway line on tho outskirts of the capital. Travelling by motor-car, freight car and on foot tho first band of unemployed, estimated to number between 200 and 300, arrived in tho capital at tho weekend. The leaders of the movement declare that before the week is out 1200 men will bo in the city. A march on Parliament has been planned for Tuesday, when an attempt will be made to see the Prime Minister, Mr. R. 13. Bennett, and present demands. These aro said to include non-contributory unemployment insurance for civilians and the payment of one dollar 10 cents a day in cash to unemployed war veterans. Mr. Bennett has agreed to receive seven delegates provided they aro not Communists. Their demands aro said to include also tho release of imprisoned labour agitators, the removal of Canada's embargo on Russian goods, a seven-hour day, a five-day week, stoppage of shipments of food and war materials to Japan, and the repeal of tariffs and taxes which keep up prices of the necessities of life. There is every likelihood of a clash with the authorities to-morrow. The police are. prepared for emergencies. The leaders of the men threaten to summon large reinforcements in the event of their demands not being conceded. Delegates to the conference met in an abandoned garage on Monday and passed resolutions urging non-contributory unemployment insurance, shorter working days, cessation of "polico terror," and exemption of all poor farmers from the payment of taxes, debt and rent payments. There are scores of women in tho crowd of .delegates, while the ex-soldiers' division includes former officers of the Canadian Army Corps, one of whom won the Distinguished Flying Cross. At least one lawyer and two former preachers are also there. They are members of the Workers' Ex-Servicemen's League and National Unemployed Councils. Both bodies are regarded as Communists and therefore illegal. The campers are being meagrely fed bv the Workers' International Relief Organisation.