WORKERS LIVING IN A CAMP INVADE PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 May 1947, Page 5

WORKERS LIVING IN A CAMP INVADE PARLIAMENT

MARCH IN CANBERRA TO TELL OF BAD CONDITIONS

Reed. 8.40 p.m. Canberra. May S | Over 300 men, composed of! half British building workers and ' half Australians living in a tem-1 porary camp to-day marched on Parliament House to force an ini-j provement in allegedly slum eonditions at the camp. With banners reading. "Go to-East- | lake and live like pigs!" they deployed I with military precision outside the ■ House and stood at ease, while six , leaders sought interviews with Minis- '' ters. But their patience became ex-, hausted alter a wait of an hour and I they swarmed into Parliament House, inarching throug.r the corridors. I An -attendant persuaded them to go to the public galleries, where they sat • restively, listening to the financial debate The leaders conferred for mote

(than an hour with the Housing Minister (Mr. Lemmon). At a signal the men then tramped out of the galleries Ito an assembly point, where they were told that Mr. Lemmon had promised to rectify their grievances. ’ The leader of the deputation (Mr. .George Weston) said that the main (grievance concerned cutlery and tin (cups at the camp. The men complained that they were forced to sign (for and keep these articles. After signing last night the men handed in ■ the cutlery, which was confiscated toIday by the camp manager (Mr. C. (Austin). I Other grievances were lack of sugar on the tables, inadequate washing I facilities, with no plugs to baths or basins, the poor quality, of the cut Hunches and undue delay in building a wet canteen. A sample of to-days’ cut .lunch was presented to Mr. Lemmon.