WORK CEASES

Southland Times, Issue 22052, 27 June 1933, Page 5

WORK CEASES

QUESTION OF WAGES HAWKES BAY UNEMPLOYED GENERAL STRIKE CALLED (Per United Press Association.) Hastings, June 26'. Owing to disapproval of the Hawkes Bay River Board’s decision to carry out preliminary work in connection with the river diversion scheme with unemployed labour from Hastings, Napier, Taradale and Clive, the unemployed decided this morning to call a general strike. It is probable the unemployed of Waipukurau and Waipawa who are affiliated with the local men as the Hawkes Bay branch of the newlyformed national organization, will also join in the strike. _ Pickets were put on the River Board jobs this morning and all the River Board s work declared “black.” _ The men made a request this morning that those allocated to River Board jobs should be given other work. The decision to call a general strike followed upon a refusal to consider their request. The men’s contention is that as the River Board’s scheme is essential work, men employed on it should be paid award wages and given full time. Mr Chris. Larsen, on behalf of the River Board, explained at a meeting of the men this morning that the Government had granted only £lOOO for preliminary work and that the River Board has no money to enable it to accede to the men’s request. Negotiations are now proceeding. I»4 the meantime all relief work in the Hastings and Napier district Las ceased. Probably 2000 men are involved. STRIKE DECLARED APPEAL TO BUSINESS MEN. (Per United Press Association.) Hastings, June 26. A general strike of unemployed on all relief jobs has been declared throughout the Hawkes Bay district due to objections which have been raised to employing relief workers on the Rivers Board diversion, the Tutaekuri river and other works which the Bay County Council has in hand. In addition a meeting held at Napier this evening decided unanimously that instead of adopting passive resistance, they would employ every means there were to see that there were no blacklegs unemployed to maintain. The river diversion work should be carried out under conditions of full time and the standard rate of wages and County Council work is maintenance which' should be done by the council’s permanent staff and which would lead to men being compulsorily sent out to the various camps. The relief workers have made an appeal to business men throughout the district which concludes with the following: “We are confident that you will not allow our wives and children to go hungry whilst we are fighting for better conditions.” A speakci’ at one of several meetings held throughout the day said that so far as national action is concerned he did not know what advice the local organization would give to the National Council. It would be foolish to “stage an explosion” at present, but there was no doubt when serious action was taken the public would be sympathetic, not only in Hawkes Bay but throughout New Zealand.