UNEMPLOYED ON THE MARCH

Southland Times, Issue 23541, 22 June 1938, Page 5

UNEMPLOYED ON THE MARCH

SEQUEL TO EVICTION IN VANCOUVER

VICTORIA “INVADED” BY 100 MEN

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 21, 9.40 p.m.)

VICTORIA (British Colum.), June 20. One hundred of the unemployed men who were evicted from the post office at Vancouver on Friday arrived at Victoria by boat. They announced their intention to stage a “sit-down” in Parliament Buildings, and civic and provincial police threw a heavy guard around all the entrances. The march-

ing men then took up their quarters at the relief workers’ union hall instead.

The leader stated that 500 more men would arrive shortly.

Defying the radical Commonwealth Federation Party, the Premier of British Columbia (Mr T. D, Patullo), during a stormy conference at Vancouver, declared that the unemployed were not to blame, they were merely the dupes of professional agitators and' troublemakers, he said.

“The Government insists that men gathered here from other provinces will not be granted assistance,” said Mr Patullo. The rioters had been offered free transportation and expenses to their eastern homes.

“Further lawlessness will not be tolerated,” said the Premier, “and the Government is prepared to quell any disturbance. I refuse to call a special session of the legislature.” In the House of Commons at Ottawa Mr J. S. Woodsworth, the Commonwealth Federation leader, described the eviction at Vancouver as a disgraceful, unprovoked attack on unprepared men by policemen. He alleged that the heavy damage to property was caused by men crazed with tear gas. The Minister of Justice (Mr E. H. Lapointe) stated that he was amazed that Mr Woodsworth should defend the lawless seizure of a Federal building. The Government’s only fault was too much leniency. Every method was adopted to make the eviction as humane as possible. The men had resisted and had deliberately wrecked stores, causing 30,000 dollars’ worth of damage. “The law must prevail in this country, and as long as I have anything to do with the Government it will prevail,” said Mr Lapointe.