DEMONSTRATION BY WORKLESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19806, 23 May 1934, Page 8

DEMONSTRATION BY WORKLESS

DEMANDS MADE OF MR FORBES A SATISFACTORY OUTCOME By Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON NORTH, May 22. If the unemployed of Palmerston North made no headway with the Hon. Adam Hamilton this morning, they certainly won a victory to-night when similar demands were made of the Prime Minister, who attended the Sheepbreeders Conference. The demonstration was the largest of its kind seen in the city, and obviously on the point of breaking out at any moment in spite of the presence of many police. The workers’ leaders, however, exercised commendable control. With banners flying the crowd marched to the main entrance of -he hotel where the leaders walked inside to ask Mr Forbes to meet a deputation with the same demands as were put to Mr Hamilton earlier in the day. Mr Forbes was at dinner and the delay incensed the crowd which became impatient and epithets were hurled. Mr Forbes appeared on the balcony later and listened to demands on similar lines to those presented to Mr Hamilton. His replies were continually punctuated with boos and hisses and the climax arived when the Mayor (Mr Hansford), who was listening on the edge of the crowd, took up the gauntlet when Mr Forbes asked what the city had done to assist the unemployed of Palmerston North. The Mayor mounted the balcony alongside Mr Forbes and vigorously took up the cudgels for the city and the workers with a result that the workers’ leaders and Mr Forbes went into conference, the outcome of which was an assurance oy Mr Forbes that immediately on his return to Wellington on Thursday he would call the Cabinet together to discuss the situation in Palmerston North. It was also announced that Mr Forbes w’as not in favour of compulsory camps, and also that if the City Council was unable to provide capitil works he would see that the money th»s men would receive by way of allocations would still be available for them. He also approved of the men being allowed to make up the work lost today.