“WE WANT FOOD”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 January 1932, Page 5

“WE WANT FOOD”

UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATE. DUNEDIN WORKERS’ DEMANDS. DUNEDIN, Saturday. Culminating in a vigorous attempt to break into the grocery premises of Messrs. Wardell Bros., a large demonstration by relief workers, who marched along George Street chanting ‘‘ We want'food,” was organised in Dunedin this morning. • At 10 o’clock a crowd gathered in the Octagon and marched to the Hospital Board's offices to repeat' the demands for relief. The board said it would*; deal with individual eases, but the efy “All must get it or nobody,” was raised and after several women, whose cases were investigated, were turned away because their hushad some work this week, in an angry mood, marched to Warden’s. Although confronted by Police Superintendent Eccles and a body of constables, they made ji desperate attempt to enter the premises and help themselves. The rush was beaten back and much haranguing took place. A plate glass window of the shop was broken, and a detective was struck on the leg by a big lump of brick and mortar. The police were very tactful, and little hostility was shown to them as individuals. The crowd became eo great that all traffic was suspended between 11 and 1 o’clock. By this time there were only some three., hjundred persons in the crowd, but vfhOn an attempt was made to run the trams through, some women lay down on the rails and the manager has suspended the main street service in the meantime.

It transpires that the only casualty was to the labour leader, Mr. O’Rorke, who, when attempting to address the was struck on the head by a larg<v stone, the wound requiring dress* ing.—(P.A.).