WORKLESS DEMAND WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 9

WORKLESS DEMAND WORK

1 I URGENT SESSION ADVOCATED AUCKLAND COUNCIL POWERLESS. CITY’S BIGGEST PROCESSION YET. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Hopes that the city council might be able to do something to relieve the present acute position of the unemployed were dashed this morning when the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, told a deputation that it was impossible for the council to find work as there was no money available, and the only possibility of assisting was by the Loans Board granting a loan the council was asking. If that were granted about 100 men would be employed on the waterfront road. The procession of unemployed to the Town Hall was the biggest yet held in Auckland. About SOO men and one ■woman assembled in Customs Street and marched up Queen Street to the Town Hall, where a deputation of nine delegates appointed was given an audience by the Mayor. Speakers without exception stressed the serious position of thousands of unemployed and. the need of some immediate relief. Work was asked for, but speakers said the Government having failed in \ts duty to provide that work,.. the men were now asking for sufficient sustenance. One speaker said the time had arrived when men would do ; anything to get sustenance.

The Mayor: “Is that a threat?” "No, it is not a threat, but the men are not going to starve. The law does not allow men to commit suicide.” . - Another member of the deputation said the position of men attending the labour bureau morning after morning to be told there was nothing doing was little short of disgraceful. In replying, the Mayor said he "wanted to congratulate the men on the way they had brought their troubles before him. They had the full sympathy of the city council, but the council had gone as far as it could and had to keep within limits. The Mayor said he was very disappointed with the work on the main highways, and he thought the Main Highways Board should be approached and asked to push on with work. “I think the proper course for you to take,” said the Mayor, “is to approach members of Parliament; they make the laws. Get the whole of them together and have a conference. You can tell them better than I can your position, and see if they cannot do something for you. I am willing to do anything I can to help, but the council at present has no money at all to spend on relief works.”

One member of the deputation said they knew as much, no more than when they came in, but he thanked the Mayor for the patient hearing he had accorded the delegates. “What ahi I to go and tell the thousand men outside?” he asked. “Those men are getting desperate, and I am expected to go out and tell them, what—that there is. nothing, and the council can do nothing?” “I am very sorry,” said the Mayor, “but I have explained the position, and we have no money to spend.” ' The deputation then withdrew and the men outside were asked to fall in and march to the Trades Hall, where they would be told what had transpired in the Mayor’s office. At the Trades Hall there was some fairly plain talk, the inactivity of the Government being severely criticised. Mr. W. Parry, Labour member, and Mr. J. Purtell, addressed the gathering,, and a resolution was passed calling upon Parliament to hold a special session immediately and provide some measure by which the unemployed would be given work or allotted sustenance.