RELIEF WORKERS’ STRIKE BALLOT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21645, 16 May 1932, Page 6

RELIEF WORKERS’ STRIKE BALLOT.

It was not to be supposed, that this part of the Dominion would escape the effects of the agitation that is being directed to persuade the unemployed to refuse to carry on relief work under existing conditions. A, strike ballot is now to be taken in Dunedin. A concerted effort is being made throughout New Zealand to upset the operation of the relief scheme in the hope of wringing from the. Government something more than the measure of assistance which, by drawing heavily upon the resources of the community, it is at present extending to the unemployed. In Christchurch and Wellington the “ organisers ” are doing their best to make relief work strikes general, and “ demands ” have been formulated for presentation to the Government. At a meeting of strikers in Wellington delegates from Christchurch asked that “ the fight be made on a national basis.” When a .strike Committee, as in Christchurch, declares

all relief works “ black,” sober-minded people may Avell deplore the utter lack of any sense of proportion Avhich is thus being displayed. The opportunity remains with the relief ivorkers themselves, liOAvever, here and elseAvhere, to show that in spite of the exhortations that have been addressed to them by those Avho pose as their counsellors, friends, and leaders, they are capable of reasonable judgment and of discerning Avhere their interests lie. They should be perfectly capable of realising that if they go on strike they will certainly be the losers. It is for them also to consider the effect of their attitude on the public mind. If they refuse to do the work which is being provided solely for ’their benefit they Avill not thereby make their cause appear the more deserving. The view, expressed by church leaders in the north that something will have to be done to supplement the relief alloAVances probably reflects a feeling that is fairly general or groAving throughout the community, and -the * opinion that the position of unemployed young men and Avomen calls for amelioration Avill be widely entertained. But the needs of the situation cannot all be met at once. The problem confronting the community is, one of extraordinary, difficulty A Nothing can be more futile than persistent railing at the Unemployment Board because the scheme which it has devised is less liberal than is adequate to the needs of the unemployed, or very different from the treatment which those who are egging on the unemployed to hold demonstrations, and issue protects assure them they ought to be receiving. A great danger exists at the- present time of the unemployed being used as 1 tools or dupes by persons who are much more concerned to foment unrest and ill-feeling than to render any good service to anybody. It is through the activities of these people, who are doing their best to exploit the situation for ulterior purposes, that the unemployed are exposed to the’risk of resorting to measures that can only be harmful to their oavr cause. While the general public has a large sympathy with the unemployed, it is certainly not in sympathy with the “ demands ” Avhich the self-constituted advisers of the unemployed would have them make. There is no room in the public mind for toleration of the mischief-makers, and the, last thing Avhich the unemployed can afford to do is to antagonise any considerable measure of public opinion by lending themselves to the 1 designs of such persons.