ON STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 21361, 6 April 1931, Page 8

ON STRIKE

RELIEF WORKERS’ ■ ■ . • ..... •• I TRAM SERVICE HELD UP’ SITUATION BECOMES TENSE (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, April 4. About 400 relief workers on strike were addressed by oiie of their number in the Trades Hall, yard, this morning. He urged them to keep on strike, after which a procession was formed down the principal city streets with banners protesting against the new relief rates. , .-The party formed up outside the newspaper offices, which were counted out, and proceeded to Lambton Quay where tram traffic was held up, the demonstrators re; fusing, to move off the tram' rails. The situation several times became tense, trams proceeding at a walking pace pushing demonstrators who leaned against the buffers in an attempt to stop the trams. One car was held up for several' hundred yards, but gathered speed, charging through the head of the procession scattering banners and demonstrators right and -left. The demonstrators pulled off the trolley poles on one occasion, a scuffle ensuing between a' tramwayman and a striker. Another tram was’similarly affected in Cuba street. Returning outside the Trades Hall the procession stopped in the middle of the road singing “Red” songs and stopping the tram traffic. The demonstrators dispersed after a further demonstration was arranged.