UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT.

ALLEGED OFFENSIVE REMARKS. UNEMPLOYED SEEK APOLOGY. MR LAING EVADES THE CROWD. MR COATES SURROUNDED. A GOOD-HUMOURED HECKLING. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, January 23. About 60 unemployed men searched the city to-day for Mr A. M. Laing, a member of the Auckland Hospital Board, with the expressed intention of extracting an apology for some derogatory remarks he was alleged to have directed against the unemployed at the last meeting of the board. He was located outside the Southern Cross Building in Chancery street, and on learning the intentions of the men he disappeared into the building and declined to come out. The crowd then discovered the Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. 6. Coates), who was entering the building, to confer with the officials of the New Zealand Political Reform League, and for over an hour they held him in consultation in the middle of the street, while a number of curious pedestrians and a small posse of police looked on. The remarks to which exception was taken were reported at the time as follows^: —“ There is something wrong with a New Zealander who cannot make a living in this country. The Hospital Board is killing the people with kindness. We are overdoing it. What could be more demoralising than giving them a bare existence to hang around the city? ” Speakers at the meeting of unemployed at the Trades Hall labelled this pronouncement “ a libel against the unemployed,” and it was resolved to see Mr Laing in a body and demand an apology. One of the unemployed, whose name is Edwards, thereupon telephoned to Mr Laing and asked for an appointment. Thinking “Mr Edwards” was a business acquaintance of the same name, Mr Laing said, “ Certainly. I will meet you at your office at 2 o'clock.” “ But I haven’t got an office,” replied Mr Edwards. “Yes,’ you have,” retorted Mr Laing. “ I mean your office in the Southern Cross Buildings,” and the conversation ended. Armed with this information a crowd of unemployed men awaited their man outside the building- at 2 o’clock. When Mr Laing _ arrived Mr Edwards approached him and said: “My name is Edwards. I have an appointment with you, and here are my friends outside.” Mr Laing declined to be drawn into an argument with the crowd and walked inside the building, the doors of which were then guarded by policemen. Disappointed at the turn of events the crowd gave vent to its 'feelings by vigorously counting Mr Laing out. Some of the men were beginning to disperse when Mr Coates drove up in his car. He was instantly recognised and surrounded, and was busily occupied for the best part of an hour replying to the questions that were showered upon him. Asked what he had done to improve the unemployment situation, Mr Coates said that if he had been allowed an opportunity tq remain Prime Minister he would have reduced the unemployment relief wages and so paved the way for a great many more jobs than were being found at present. A voice: Yes, yqu were out to bring down wages. T Mr Coates: Let me tell you, friend, I was out to do nothing of the sort. What I said then and what I say now, is that the relief pay should never have been •raised as it has been. Many of you fellows would not be out of work to-day if the fund available for the payment Of relief wages had been spread over a greater number of men. It would be far better if you all had a job of some sort than for some of you to be getting good wages and the rest looking for jobs that are not there. Mr Coates said he appreciated exactly how the men felt, and he regarded it as his earnest duty to associate himself personally with those organisations from which relief might be expected. He was not the Government, however, and he fully realised that the depression was the result of world conditions rather than local circumstances. Temporary measures were of little use in solving the problem. It required a steady building up of trade and industry, from which alone permanent improvement might be expected. A woman who addressed Mr Coates at considerable length said it was no use expecting anything serious from a man. She expressed a vehement conviction that if she could get . the support of 1000 women she would alter the whole complexion of the economic situation in a moment —an assertion that was greeted with cheers and laughter. By this time the men were in a goodhumoured mood and Mr Coates was permitted to depart. “ Well, you’re not afraid, at any rate, shouted a man in the crowd. “What is there to be afraid of, friend? ” asked Mr Coates. . “Don’t call me 'friend.' I’m no friend of yours,” replied the man. “Well, comrade,” retorted Mr Coates, and there was general laughter as he turned to enter the building. He was counted out, and soon afterwards the crowd dispersed. Officials of the Auckland Unemployed Workers’ Association stated, at the close of the incident, that the affair was unrehearsed, and there was no intention of adopting violence towards Mr Laing. They took exception to his remarks at the meeting of. the Hospital Board, and a number of men had volunteered to see him and ask him to apologise. There was no desire to embarrass him further. APPLICANTS FOR WORK. AN UNPRECEDENTED TOTAL. SCOPE OF BOARD’S WORK. REASON FOR DECLINING APPLICATIONS. (Pee United Phess Association.) WELLINGTON, January 23. The unprecedented total of 14,875 unemployed were registered at the Labour Bureaux throughout the Dominion for the week ended January 12, an increase of 3527 on the previous week. The chairman of the Unemployment Board (Mr S. G. Smith) has issued a statement that portion'd its time is taken up in receiving deputations from all over New Zealand, and in dealing with appeals that it is not authorised to grant. The board is loth to refuse any request or to decline to-meet deputations, hut the organisation of the schemes on a, permanent basis for the benefit of the unemployed is a matter of so much urgency that it is hoped that only the most vitally important matters will for toe next few weeks be submitted to the board. Incorrect ideas regarding the powers of the board have led to exaggerated expectations by many individuate. There is a definite limit to the boards powers and sources, and the members have to deal with each ease strictly on its merits, and with regard to the board s legal powers. Like all other organisations the board is compelled to live within its means. It is for 'this reason that a great number of applications recently made to the board have had to be declined. POSITION AT ROTORUA. W T ORK FOUND FOR MEN. (Pee United Press Association.) ROTORUA, January 23. The Minister of Public Works (Mr W. B. Taverner) returned to Rotorua this morning after attending a Cabinet meeting at Wellington. The Minister re«eived a deputation of local unemployed, ■who stated that many of their number were absolutely destitute. The Minister, in reply, stated that he had placed IS married men, and would endeavour to meet the situation jyith additional em-

ployment. The deputation thanked the Minister for his courteous hearing. Preliminary work has been started on the new Blue Bath. FURTHER MONEY AVAILABLE. WORK UNDER No. 2 SCHEME. Last evening the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) received the following reply from the Unemployment Board, Wellington:— “ Your telegram for further allocation of £3OO approved for Dunedin Committee for work within scope of scheme No. 2/’ “ This means,” said the Mayor, " that further work may be undertaken at once under scheme No. 2 in the way of gardening or other work on the basis of part payment by employer and part by the Dunedin Committee.” There are no further developments regarding the Mayor’s requests to the Unemployment Board for _ a £2OOO free grant and a £IO,OOO subsidy*