UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3522, 13 September 1921, Page 17

UNEMPLOYMENT.

DEMANDS ON POOR LAW GUARDIANS. LONDON, September 3. The Shoreditch Unemployed Committee, after refusing the Guardians’ offer of a maximum of £3 weekly, decided to recommend that the offer be accepted. A municipal by-election at Islington, where Labour dominates the Council and the Board of Guardians, which granted unemployed allowance of £3 13s 6d weekly, resulted in the overwhelming defeat of the Labour candidate. The election was regarded as a test of the Guardians' policy. September 6. The leaders of the Woolwich unemployed recommend the rank and file to accept the guardians’ offer of a maximum of 60s per week for a family. Lire Health Ministry refused to sanction proposals by the Islington Board of Guardians to pay an unemployed allowance of 63s a week for a man with six children in addition to rent. The Ministry's rule is that the amount to he paid must not ex feed the lowest rate of pay to labourers locally. The guardians are liable to a surcharge for any amount above this. September 10. Amid the protests from a deputation of unemployed the Islington Board of Guardians is carrying out the Health Ministry’s ruling. It has rescinded the unemployment relief scale of 73s weekly NOI ,S Y DEMONS TRAT 10 NS. LONDON, September 7. Three thousand unemployed demonstrators at Huddersfield demanded £1 for each adult and 7s 6d for each child, plus 14s rent, as well as coal. The guardians refused this, hut offered food coupons and temporary ir.eals at the Salvation Army barracks. Five thousand noisy demonstrators gathered outside the Liverpool Town Hall. The crowd passed a resolution that, unless the Lord Mayor came out ,and addressed the crowd within 10 minutes, he must take the reponsibility for the consequences. The Lord Mayor came out, and had a conference with the men’s leaders in full view of the waiting crowd. Unemployed demonstrations were held in a number of provincial towns, including Bristol, where 1000 unemployed attacked the Guardians’ offices, and were repulsed only after a sharp struggle with the police, during which the unemployed used sticks, bricks, and iron bars, and broke many windows. Finally the police charged the scattered crowd, and made a number of arrests. The Shoreditch unemployed resolved on a no-rent strike until unemployment is made a national charge and full maintenance for the unemployed is in practice. In order to enforce the strike the borough was divided into 16 parts, each under a marshal, who will arrange pickets to patrol the streets and give assistance in case an attempt is made to evict a stricker. Sir I’eter Ryland, speaking at an unemployed conference at Warrington, sa: - that the unemployment storm which \v now muttering would thunder within t weeks. Five thousand unemployed Abertillery miners marched 10 miles to interview the Bedwelity Guardians, and demanded 25s for each man and wife and 12s for each child additional to rent and rates, and half a ton of coal monthly. The guardians after providing bread and cheese for the marchers, offered 10s to each breadwinner and 10s to each bachelor, which was accepted under protest. RIOT IN DUNDEE. LONDON, September 7. Five thousand unemployed stormed the Dundee Poor Law Offices. A police inspector was knocked down and much stoning led to the police using their batons to break up the crowds. A number were injured, including several women. September 8. Unemployed riots at Dundee were renewed last night. Several thousand marched through the street, and some shop windows were broken and the shops looted. The police had to make baton charges, and a number were injured. The- Lord Provost, when motoring homewards, was stoned, and his daughter, who was inside the car, was injured. The Cabinet at Inverness discussed the unemployed problem, and appointed a committee to deal with the subject, consisting of Sir Robert Horne (Chancellor of the Exchequer) Air T. J. Macnamara, Sir A. Alond, and Air R. Munro. LONDON, September 9. Serious rioting was resumed in Dundee Last night, Shop windows were smashed for a distance of three-quarters of a mile. The police, by baton (‘barges, ultimately dispersed the mob. which split into small parties and went to Lochee and other districts and continued the destruction of windows. All the available police force was employed, also specials. Thousands of unemployed in Sunderland invaded the business centre of tics town while their loaders were interviewing the Board of Guardians. Part of a huge crowd came into conflict with the police, who were compelled to use their batons. J* ive of the unemployed were sent to hospital. DISTRESS IN SOUTH AFRICA. CAPETOWN, September 8. Sir Thomas Smartt announced that a substantial Union loan will be floated shortly to alleviate distress.