PROTEST MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 15

PROTEST MEETING

SOCIAL CONDITIONS GOVERNMENT CRITICISED PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT A public meeting called by a group of clergy representing mainly the Anglican and Roman Catholic faiths was held in the Town Hall last night as "a united protest against unjust and unchristian social conditions." The ing, which numbered about 1500, was presided over by the Primate, Archbishop Averill. Three resolutions were carried, including cne calling for the rejection o): the Government at the general election. "I regard this meeting as a kind of climax to a long-felt dissatisfaction with the lot of the unemployed and also dissatisfaction with the present outlook of the unemployed," said Archbishop Averill. "I am in full and complete sympathy with the manifesto put out some time ago by members of the Church.

Danger of Permanency "But the question appeals to me very largely in this way. The ago of unrestrained competition cannot meet the needs of the present day. Unemployment under the present system of world order is not a temporary matter. It will continue, perhaps with temporary seasonal alleviation, but the evolution of the machine age has changed the whole economic and industrial outlook. "The whole question of Unemployment needs facing from a different angle. At present wo are only trying to patch what has gone too far to be patched, and what, I think, is too serious for any kind of patching. It is a new system which is needed in order to meet the needs of a new age. "Under the present system of dealing with unemployment, it is very difficult for a man to keep his own selfrespect, in many cases, and givH his best at the work he has to do, when there is gnawing at his heartstrings all the time the feeling that he himself is in danger of deterioration and he and his family improperly fed and clothed, and his home, in many cases, gradually disappearing."

Poverty and Distress Monsignor H. F. Holbrook said that out of a population of 1,500,000 in New Zealand approximately 200,000 men, women and children, representing the unemployed and their dependants, were in chronic poverty and distress. "The conditions are before you, and no one can question them," he said. "It is a national scandal. You and I, have some responsibility as members of the community, but eventually the responsibility rests upon Parliament' and the Government. There has been too much tinkering with the problem. There has been no statesmanlike, genuine effort to find a solution. "Why has this problem been allowed to drift? Since the Government failed in the matter, public bodies, religious bodies, employers and representative citizens met under the chairmanship of Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and first-class constructive proposals were drawn up and presented to the Government. What was the result? Either scorn and rejection or a careful filing away in the wastepaper basket. 'Practical Policy Heeded Monsignor Holbrook suggested that if it was necessary to raise furuhet finance an internal loan should be raised. "I suggest that the Unemployment Board comes down off its pedestal," he added, "and, with the heads of local bodies at a round-table conference, hammer out a practical policy to solve the problem on national lines once and for all." The following motion, moved by Monsignor Holbrook, and seconded by the Rev. A. J. Beck, was carried unanimously:— "That this audience registers its indignant protest in the name of Christianity against the chronic poverty and distress which have grown into a national scandal in this country. It affirms the natural right of all citizens to an adequate standard of living. It desires to emphasise the fact that the measures adopted by the Government during its three years of direct handling of the problem have been merely of the nature of a temporisation instead of a solution; that as a consequence there prevail widespread poverty and misery, bearing with particular hardship on women and children; that there is no justification whatever for the existence of these conditions, which are a reproach to our Christian civilisation; that there is a danger of their assuming a permanent character, thereby tending to the creation of a recogriised unprivileged class. Finally, that the question of unemployment is a matter of national concern, and we urge the immediate undertaking of a constructive programme to deal effectively and permanently with the present deplorable conditions."

Returned Men's Hardships Hardship among returned soldiers, both fit and disabled, was discussed by the Rev. W. W. Averill. He moved; the following motion, which was seconded by the Rev. A. Russell Allerton and carried unanimously:— "Thai; this public meeting of citiizens expresses its indignation at the treatment accorded returned soldiers in this country. In particular, it protests against: (1) The inhumabity of the Government in leaving a large number on inadequate sustenance; (2) tho inadequacy of manywwa s pensions; (3), the intolerable delay in dealing with pension applications; (4) the harsh treatment of many war veterans whose health has broken down and who are denied pensions because their disability cannot be traced directly to war injuries. This meeting demands that: the Governineht honour the pledges given to the men who went overseas during the years 1914-18."

Dr. 12. B. Gunson, discussing malnutrition, said that admittedly poverty was not the only factor, but it could not fail to contribute to the evil in New Zealand while the present rate of sustenance payment was maintained. Mr. K. H. Melvin, the last speaker, said the group of clergy which was responsible for the meeting had loyally supported the Government hitherto. The members of the group, however, had now formed the considered opinion that their confidence had been betrayed. He moved: "That this audience, iri calling for d no-confidence rejection of the present Government at the forthcoming poll, records its conviction that any continuance of civio and political ineptitude, on the part of this or any other Government, is warranted not only to destroy faith in constitutional government, but also to do despite to the essential spirit of Christianity." The motion was seconded by the Rev. Jasper Calder and carried with a few dissentients, including a man who stow up in the rear of the gallery arta attempted to make a speech. His words could not be made out, however, he desisted when the meeting closed with the benediction.