PUBLIC MEETING OF PROTEST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19598, 19 September 1933, Page 9

PUBLIC MEETING OF PROTEST

RELIEF ALLOCATIONS PETITION BY WIVES OF UNEMPLOYED At the request ot the Tlmaru Relief Workers’ Wives Committee, the Timaru Borough Council, at its last meeting, . agreed to call a public meeting of citizens to protest against the present relief allocations, and against the stand-down week. The meeting was held in the Theatre Royal last night, there being upwards of 500 present. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr G. Benstead) was in the chair, and there were also on the platform Mesdames A. S. Robinson (president), E. N. Fitzgerald and J. Garland (representing the Relief Workers’ Wives' Committee), Mr C. Carr, M.F., Rev. Father M. A. Murphy, S.M., Rev. H. L. Flebig (representing the Timaru Ministers’ Association), Messrs S. Lang (president), and G. T. Roller (Timaru Unemployed Workers’ Union), W. G. Tweedy and P. C. Vinnell (Timaru Borough Council), and E. G. Cliffen (Central Relief Society). The chairman said that the meeting had been called by the Borough Council as a result of a letter received from the committee of the Relief Workers’ Wives’ Association, asking that a public meeting be called to consider the allocation of relief rates and conditions generally in Timaru, and to confirm a petition which was to be presented to Parliament by Mr C. Carr, M.P., protesting against the present inadequate allocations and asking for the abolition of the standdown week. He had been asked to preside at the meeting, and as a citizen and deputy-mayor he felt it his duty to do what he could to improve matters generally for the wives and children of relief workers. He congratulated the women who had called the meeting, and said that he hoped that sufficient pressure would be brought to bear on Parliament to force it to improve the existing conditions. In making a few general observations, he desired to point out that anything he had to say would be his own views, as he had no mandate from the Council to speak on its behalf. Anything they did that night would need to be of a constructive nature. Was the present policy of the Government a sound one, and was it capable of improvement? he asked. If it was not a sound one, then it should be scrapped, lock, stock and barrel. (Applause.) Was the standard of Work at present being done by the unemployed such as to preserve their selfrespect? Suggestions were recehtly made to the iocal Unemployment Committee by Mr H. G. Naylor that relief work should be abolished; award rates paid to all men fit to work, and that sustenance should be paid to all men who were not able to work. With these suggestions he was in accord. If any work undertaken by the unemployed was of a desirable nature, then It should be paid for at award rates. Planned economies, high tariffs and high exchange rates did not appear to be doing any good for the situation. In closing, he said that he hoped the meeting would not develop into a political one. They were there to try to do something to improve conditions for the women and children, and if they did that, they would eventually improve conditions for relief workers themselves. Unsatisfactory Conditions. Father Murphy said that perhaps tnere was no representative present tlkat evening more in touch with the unemployed in Timaru than he himself. He was a member of both the Central Relief Society and the Unemployment Committee, both of which were doing their level best to assist the unemployed. The Relief Society would close its doors to-morrow were it not for the fact that it had the knowledge that It was in some way helping the 800 unemployed in Timaru. The public could materially help the Society’s work by supporting the present Queen Carnival. The Unemployment Committee had made repeated endeavours to have Timaru placed on a city basis so far as allocations were concerned. Every family was entitled to a living sustenance and every relief worker Was entit led to sufficient with which to pay his rent and his way. New Zealanders at home and abroad were well known for their independent spirit, and it was hoped that the morale of the people would be restored to the extent that New Zealand would still $e known as "God’s Own Country.” He hoped that the petition would receive the consideration it rightly deserved. Relief Society’s Support. . Mr Cliffen apologised for the absence Of the president of the Central Relief * Bociety (Mr W. T. Ritchie). On Friday night last, the Society unanimously decided to associate itself with the petition which was to be presented to Parliament. Like Father Murphy, he knew something of the conditions which prevailed, and that was why the Bociety had decided to support the petition, and why he personally was present that night. He congratulated the women who were circulating the petition, and hoped that their efforts would be crowned with success. Government’s Responsibility. Mr Lang congratulated the women on the magnificent effort they had put forward in circulating the petition. The unemployed did not want increased allocations at the expense of the cities, but they wanted to receive ■allocations similar to the cities. The Government had dodged the position and it was the noble men and women of Timaru who had come to the fore (tnd organised the Central Relief ’Society. The Government was hiding behind such societies. The Unemployment Board was a puppet of the Government, and the Timaru unemployment Committee, which no one could accuse of inactivity, was a btlffer between the public and the . Board. The position was desperate, said Mr Lang, who pointed out that one relief worker had told him that on paying his rei.t he had 5 - on which to keep his wife and family "Is it possible to live on that—l ask you?” Voices: No. Mr Lang: With all due respect to the men and women who so unselfishly give their assistance, is left-off clothing good enough fo the people of New Zealand? Voices: I7o! No! Mr Lang urged that the strongest representations be made to the Government. Humanity’s Fight. • Mr Fiebig said that they all knew that there was one thing which humanity had fought against doggedly, and human nature would always fight and protest against, and that was injustice. The record of histo-y was that injustice, in any shape or form, always destroyed ’ltself. if they were going to engage in a fight against injustice, then they must first see -that they themselves were Just. A tremendous lot had been done for the people of New Zealand, and thev

would do well just to remember this. It was not his purpose to indulge In a speech regarding the losses and suffering of a certain section of the community, because all in the building were aware Of the circumstances. What they were present for was to try to do something to bring about a better state of affairs. The problem had varied aspects, and he proposed to view it from the angle the people expected him to view It. The meeting that night was one of protest, but what was the meaning of the word? A protest was not a negative thing; it was to witness. They were present to Witness the conditions of the working people; to witness that they Were living in the twentieth century, the conditions of which were a disgrace to the second century. They were witnesses to the fact that they were determined not to permit such conditions to continue, and to witness also that New Zealand was not bankrupt. Unless they had mental strength, moral fibre and spiritual stability, then they would not get very far. They were present also to witness to the fact that they believed that the supreme thing was personality. They were never meant to be the slaves of circumstances, and if there were hurtful conditions, then they had been brought about by faulty thinking, wrong motives and wrong passions. To rectify the position, they would have to change the faulty thinking, wrong motives and wrong passions. Anything that would be for the improvement of present conditions, and for the finding of a lasting solution of the problem had received, and would continue to receive, the lasting support of the ministers of Timaru. Individual Cases. Mrs Robinson said that for weeks past the Relief Workers’ Wives’ Committee, comprising a mere handful of women, had been canvassing the town in order to obtain signatures to the petition. For years many of their menfolk had been unemployed and the strain was now telling on the women. Their children were underfed and could not obtain necessary clothing and food. She instanced the cases cf men receiving 30/- a week or £6 a month. Rent accounted for £4 and this left 10/- a week for food. A family tf four with three meals a day had 84 meals a week and the 10/- worked out at less than lid a meal without lighting. gas and coal. A man with 10 children had 12 persons to support on £2 a week. This meant 252 meals for the week at a cost of 1 l-9d a meal without lighting, clothes, coal and wood etc. The rent could not be paid by this man who was ordered by the Magistrate to quit his house on September 23 because he could not pay Interest and principal. One man had to pawn his Sunday suit in order to buy groceries and coal at the Central Relief Society’s depot. "Some say shame! How much longer Is this state of affairs to exist?” asked Mrs Robinson. She thanked the organisers of the community sing and the Queen Carnival and other organisations too numerous to mention for their support, and mentioned the wonderful workers of the Central Relief Society. They could hot condemn that Society but they were pleased to feel a little independent by paying something for the goods obtained. The women did not want charity for their men, but work and a living wage. The time was opportune when they must demend the Government to do something for the children. Mrs Robinson expressed regret that the Mayor was not preseht so that as mothers of future citizens they could look to him. They had, however, a stone wall support ,n the deputy-Mayor and some of the Councillors who were present that night. If only the Mayor knew of some of the cases she had quoted she was sure he would be more sympathetic. "I wonder how he would like to be in the position of some of the unemployed. If he had lid to provide for each meal he might have more sympathy than he has," she said. Mrs Robinson appealed to her hearers to do what they could as men ahd citizens to make the lot of the unemployed a little brighter. Morale Being Broken. Mr Carr said that he could not but join in paying tribute to the worn en who had circulated the petition. He knew how discouraging some people were, especially those who were to be expected to lend a helping hand. Even some of their own sisters had not lent a helping hand. Just as ever, the job had been left to the walling few. He was pleased to see so many present, especially when there was such an important counter-attraction up the street. (Laughter.) If all the unemployed, and their wives and dependents, had attended, the hall would have been full. Just so long as they put up with present conditions, so lotig Would they continue. There was nothing wrohg with New Zealand or with the people. Sometimes it was suggested that if hours were shortened and wages were increased, that people would take advantage of It. It had also been suggested that people would take advantage of unemployment insurance. He refused to believe that human Intelligence was any less than that of an ant hill. The morale of the people was being broken down because they were not receiving a decent standard of living. They had become denizens of a moral and spiritual garbage heap. The chairman had said that he hoped the meeting Would not be a political one, so he would not say “the Government.” He would just l say that certain things had been done I and Certain things had not been done. The present capitalistic system was based on a lie, and that system could not last very much longer. There were in humanity instincts of service, helpfulness and co-operation, and the idea that people could only be rich at the expense of their neighbours was long since played out. Science had lifted the world above the fogs of the past. All could go up and get ahead together. and man’s ingenuity, was helping humanity to put the wonderful resources of nature to the best use. All they Were asking was for the rich to get out of the road. If every other country went under the waves tomorrow, New Zealand could feed, clothe and house many times her present population. There were several lies which had to be nailed. One was that New Zealand lived on what she exported, but the people lived on what they consumed. New Zealand's real wealth consisted in what she consumed, not in w r hat she sent overseas. It had been said that the country could not live by taking in someone else s washing, but that was exactly what happened. The country should equalise money with goods; should stabilise prices over a period of years; and should stabilise Wages. What was President Roosevelt doing? Just putting his own house in order first, and that was the obligation of every country. New Zealand was teeming with wealth; had all the clothes that were required; all the food that Was necessary, but people were starving. The whole system needed revising, and the people should say they would not Put up with it any longer. He would present the petition, but probably ;t would not do any good. They would be laughed at, but if similar meetings could be held in all the provinces, then some good would be done. He did hot think the Government was doing its best. That was the worst of U. (Laughter). If that was politics, then he could not help it. There were other ways of getting round the position, but he was not pepmitted 10 mention them. (Laughter* Most vital to all present that night was that the present situation was unnecessary, because the wealth existed. With a backmg of real wealth, a good Government would tßke charge of the posi-

tion, and see that those who Created the wealth obtained their fair share - f it. Mr Carr concluded by repeating What the Prihce of Wales had Said, and that was that if they could bfihg the producer and consumer thtft An effective and satisfactory relationship they could create a state of living beyond the wildest dreams of the greatest social reformer. Motion of Protest. Regret was expressed by Mr Koller that every seat in the theatre was hot filled. It had been said by certain people In the town that the meeting would do no good, but he felt convinced that if sufficient pressure was brought to bear on the Government a change In conditions would be brought about. He moved:— “That this meeting of Timaru citizens emphatically protests against the disgracefully inadequate provision now made for relieving distress caused through Unemployment, and strongly supports the petition to Parliament signed by women citizens of Timaru.” In seconding the motion Mr Vinnell said that not ohly in the meeting but outside should protest be registered against existing conditions. He trusted that the petition would be the start of bringing about a change in the near future. The motion was carried. The Petition. Tl.: petition to be presented reads: “We, the undersigned, wives of the Timaru unemployed, emphatically protest—(l) Agaihst the present allocation to Timaru. (2) Against the stand-down week. “That the uhemployed men in this town pay the same unemployed levy as is paid in the centres. “That the Timaru relief workers wage be increased immediately to enable the wives to pay their rent and to obtain the necessities of life, owing to their finding the present amount absolutely inadequate and thus causing us considerable amount of worry and privation. “We therefore petition that this matter be dealt with without further delay. “And your petitioners will ever pray.” In moving a vote of thanks to the chairman, and the speakers, Mrs Garland said that it had been said that they had criticised the Central Relief Society, but they had not done so. They had criticised the Government for permitting such depots to exist. Under existing conditions, they had to put up with such depots. Their contention was that the tradesmen of the town should be given a fair living. If the petition did not do any ggod, they intended going further. The motion was seconded by Mrs Fitzgerald and carried unanimously. Chairman Refuses Motion. At this stage, Mr J. Fitzgerald moved from the body of the hall: “That this meeting of citizens pass a vote of no confidence in the Mayor on account of his action towards the Relief Workers' Wives' Committee in refusing to preside at this meeting.” The Chairman: You can hardly expect me. as deputy-mayor of Timaru, to accept a motion of that sort, because it is manifestly unfair. If I put a resolution of this sort, you would not have the slightest respect for me afterwards. It is absolutely out r.f order, and does not deal with what the meeting was called for. (Applause.) The petition was then Handed to Mr Carr, who. in accepting it. said that he would present it to the Petitions Committee of the House, and if opport nit.y arose, would strongly support it in the House.