MAY-DAY DEMONSTRATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20087, 2 May 1927, Page 10

MAY-DAY DEMONSTRATION.

MEETING AT TRADES HALL A large and representative meeting wa» held in the Trades Hall last evening iOi the two fold purpose of celebrating May Day and discussing the acute unemployment problem , , ~ The meeting was held under the auspices of the Trades and Labour Council, the Now Zealand Alliance of Labour, and the Otago Labour Representation Committee. Mr A. 0. Maclaren, president of the Trades and Labour Council, presided, and in his opening remarks, said that the l*t of May was observed by organised Labour throughout the world to demonstrate the international solidarity of the working class movement and its avowed intention to abolish the capitalist system, and to establish the Socialist Commonwealth. He felt that it was an honour to the council that he, president, was asked to preside at that meeting. The working-class movement affirmed the brotherhood of man, and refused to recognise any distinction of race, creed, or colour. It definitely stated that the brotherhood of man could be reached, only through the gateway of economic emancipation. Mr F. Jones said it was true. It was true that New Zealand had its own national Labour Day. yet ho thought that it was right that when the workers of the world were celebrating tho International Labour Day they should re-echo the sentiments that were being expressed of the goodwill of the workers of one country to another and of the hope that many of the problems with which they were confronted would be solved during the next 12 months, months.

Mr J. W. Munro said that the deplorable economic conditions which appeared to be coming permanent in this country were duo to the failure of the people themselves to realise their responsibility. Many years ago they had great hopes from the franchise, but soon they found that the franchise was of little use if the people did not use it intelligently. He instanced the methods that were employed to secure the workers’ votes at the last general election, and said that the financial people had found the money for Mr Coates’s, fullpage advertisements. The Reform Government was really the servant of the Employers’ Federation. It was shocking to think that the conditions of life which obtained in New Zealand could bo tolerated in a civilised community. The workers should take control of the political machine. He had been elected to the City Council, but could do nothing there by himself. He hoped they soon would realise their responsibility and make New Zealand really God’s own country. Mr M. Silverstonc, president of the Otago Labour Representation Committee, gave a brief account of the manner in which May Day had become recognised as the International Labour Day. Touching on unemployment, he said that a reserve army of unemployed was necessary to capitalist production. The Government was not responsible for unemployment, any more than it was responsible for prosperity, but while it did not wish to be blamed for unemployment, it took credit to itself for any temporary prosperity that was experienced. Immigration was only a contributory cause of unemployment. Ihe real cause of unemployment was capitalist production, and tho remedy was to put a Labour Government in power. Mr W. Herbert, representing the Alliance of Labour, moved a resolution pledging anew the meeting of members and adherents of the Now Zealand Labour movement to the causes of Socialism, Internationalism, peace and human brotherhood, and that it should send fraternal greetings to the workers of all lands. _ Mrs Herbert, seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation. Mr J. Robinson, secretary of the Central Labour Office, moved a . resolution condemning the action of the Government in reducing to 12s and 9s a day on relief works, the basic wage for labourers as fixed by the New Zealand Court ot Arbitration. , , .. Mr J. Gilchrist seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. The Chairman, in closing the meeting, said that fraternal greetings would be sent to the workers throughout tho world.