RELIEF STRIKERS MARCH

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1933, Page 9

RELIEF STRIKERS MARCH

PICKETS VISIT MANY WORKS PROCESSION AT WELLINGTON. POLICE PROTECTION TO BE GIVEN. MANY OF MEN UNSYMPATHETIC. By Telegraph—Press Association. ’Wellington, Last Night. The striking relief workers this afternoon formed a picket and visited works on which men were still working, seeking to induce them to down tools. Over 100 strong, they first visited the Wellington College ground, where the men had been solidly against striking, and made such an impressive force that the small working, gangs of about 20 men each thought it best to cease activity. They will resume work to-morrow under police protection. With police keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings the picket visited the Girls’ College job, where they induced some men to join them. The mob then moved up the hill to approach the Hataitai job, but news of their approach caused all the workers there to decamp.

The picket formed itself into marching order in column of fours, but four constables in a motor-car barred the march and warned them against continuing. The massed body of the picket broke up and struggled on, accompanied: by the police on foot. Several other jobs were visited and the ranks of the pickets were swollen. The party then marched through Newtown, its numbers there being estimated at some hundreds, and arrived at the Trades Hall at 5 p.m., having covered about eight miles in the circuit of relief works.

It is understood steps are being taken to prevent the harassing by pickets of the men on the 80 jobs in and around Wellington. It is reported that two boxes containing 70 to 80 picks and shovels used on the new Johnsonville-Khandallah road were-burnt on Tuesday night, practically all the tools being destroyed. The police are inquiring into the matter.