UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 7

UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATION

PROTEST AGAINST CAMPS RESTORATION OF CUT DEMANDED (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 20. Two thousand unemployed men from relief jobs in and about the city attended a mass meeting in Latimer square this morning, and made a demonstration opposing compulsory camps for married men, urging the restoiation of the 10 per cent, cut in relief workers’ pay. Resolutions to this effect were passed. A strong force of police was on duty. As a precautionary measure six to eight policemen were stationed at every -approach to the city, and several at the approaches to Cathedral square. In addition, scores were on duty in Latimersquare. Strict precautions were taken to prevent the men from marching to the business sections of the city. They were diverted back. The men arrived in-vari-ous groups, large and small, walking four abreast to Latimer square, and almost every man carried a lunch bag oyer his shoulder. Good order was maintained. By noon 2000 men were present. Later, representatives of the men waited on the Mayor. ' _ ; . ■ The demonstration is believed to have been organised by a central body of 60 job delegates, forming a council, which had been discussing tne plans in secret for The officer in charge of the Labour Department states that the men will not be paid the time lost to-day, nor will it be made up to them. ; The following resolution was carried:“That this mass meeting expresses its unrelenting opposition to the camp system, especially its compulsory features, and pledges its determination to continue the fight until the Unemployment Board abandons the scheme in its entirety.” ■ 1 A deputation of men later waited on the Mayor (Mr D, G. Sullivan) amj were promised sympathetic consideration of the requests that a further protest ’should be made against the camps and that the men. who took part in the demonstration should be paid for the time lost. DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL REPLY BY, THE MAYOR. (Per United Press j Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 20. After the unemployed demonstration a delegation of 12 waited on the Mayor and members of the City Council to present their case against married men’s camps. The Mayor was generally sympathetic in his reply, but he said to one 8f the leaders of the deputation that if the demonstration had not been held to protest against the camp scheme Mr MacDonald would have seen to it that it was held for some other reason. The Mayor said he had always been opposed to the camps for Married men because he believed that any system whtfch caused the breaking up of families was wrong. Referring to the statement made by Ct Armstrong that before the end of the winter there would be 3000 or 4000 married men in camp in Canterbury-the Mayor said he had received a telegram from the Minister emphatically denying the statement and advising that only one more camp for married men, to be established near Ashburton for the Ashburton unemployed was contemplated. The Mayor said that the protests of the deputation would be considered. He could give no assurance, however, on the point raised as to whether men absenting themselves from work to attend the demonstration would lose their pay. That might be a question for the Government to decide and not the local bodies.