RELIEF WORKERS’ STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1933, Page 9

RELIEF WORKERS’ STRIKE

POSITION STILL INDEFINITE WELLINGTON WORK PROCEEDING. NATIONAL SECRETARY’S VIEWS. JUSTIFICATION OF TnE TACTICS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, July 11. In a statement to-day Mr. S. F. Vella, secretary of the National Union of Unemployed, said that Wellington had not had the opportunity of affiliating with the national union, with which threequarters, of the principal districts of New Zealand were affiliated, and therefore no official comment could be made by him on the local strike. The unemployed had genuine grievances, he said. Daily wages and conditions were beyond all limits of toleration and there was every just cause to adopt any weapon which would yield some measure of emancipation, but up to the present the majority of the provinces appeared to view the strike weapon as one which reacted more favourably with the board. ' The position was that majority decisions must be adhered to by the national council. The council would probably meet in the next few days to formulate a definite policy on strike tactics. The general policy would be exhaustively dealt with so that any national movement at any time should be executed in a thoroughly planned manner. The Wellington strike is not at present supported by the majority of the men. On works under the charge of the city engineers only 200 men were absent, on parks and reserves 30 and on works supervised by other employing authorities 70, making a total of 300 on strike, out of several thousands. Dissatisfaction with tire methods with which the strike was declared is expressed by some men, who contend that a proper Strike ballot purely on a strike issue was not taken.