The Ohristchurch Workless

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12829, 23 July 1909, Page 5

The Ohristchurch Workless

"Might Do Something Rash N

CHRISTCHURCH, July 22. The unemployed were much in evidence this' morning.' A procession, varying in number at different periods irom thirty to sixty or seventy, paraded the streets, seeking the local members of Parliament, in order to lay before them their needs Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., proved to be the most easily found and approached. After seeing him. the crowd proceeded to the house of Mr Davey, - M.P.^ only to find that he was out. The Mayor was then visited at. the City Council Chambers. / The deputation asked Mr Taylor to approach the Government for the workless. Mr Taylor telegraphed to the tActingPreniier (the Hon. James Carroll), urging him to have put in hand at once the erection of the new Custom House in this city or to subsidise the Summit Road, or some other work of utility." The Mayor's room was not large enough to accommodate comfortably the deputation. r Mr Kilgour, who acted as spokesman, asked that the Council should delay putting off the men on Council relief works until a reply had been received from the Acting-Premier to Mr Taylor's telegram. Mr Dobson, City Surveyor, at the May> or's request, explained that with the exception of work at the Linwood cemetery, all jobs authorised by the Works Committee had been finished. Six or eight men, whose week's work expired to-day would be put off, and he (Mr Dobson) could not take on other men until the committee decided on .pther work to be done.

Mr Kilgour then asked that the Mayor should convene a conference of local members of Parliament, to discuss the question of the introduction of a Right to Work Bill, in order that unemployed problems could thus be permanently solved.

The Mayor pointed out that tlie -uestion was a political one and" hV doubted whether the Council would be prepared to take it aip. Unemployment had been experienced on several occasions in this city and district and had invariably fo llowed periods o/^over speculation. Congestion o^f labour* had been overcome in the past, by people moving to other places. In further remarks, Mr JKilgour said that unless SeliefVof permanent character were forthcoming, the unemployed mieht possibly, do something rash. The Mayor said that on one or two previous occasion*, «f&Tr Kilgdur had made tse of similar threats. Mr Gitooup* '* js aot a threat .» The Mayor 4»i* 'that it was a covert was mild td *hdt wa£kid outside of a similar character. Such language only created a feeling of resentment and made those who- would ..otherwise bp willing to assist the workless, hesitate to g-'ve relief ihe feeling of tne Council wfs to give relief as far as the moans at its disposal would allow. It was employing 350 men as compared with 'the ordinary number of 190, and added tWt there would be n6 change in tte Council's policy 11, the mat-*-i , findm £ w f>rk for ths unemloyed SSun ?Ifterne-^t? I fterne -^ t Mo »<liy'« meeting of the

A meetuisj of the unemployed this afternoon decided to hold a demonstration in the city to-morrow morning, so as to bring their case more forcibly before the public. The sum of Jl4 9e was received in private subscriptions to-day. A+ , .. CHRISTCBCURCH, July 23. At half-past ton, several of the unemployed leaders gathered in Cathedral fcquare with spadesi and a banner, in« scribed "We want work." Soon a crowd gathered, and two constables joined. The crowd attracting more people, the constables asked for the ringleader and were told that there was none, but that the men had combined to hold a demonstration for the purpose of obtaining work. The constables said that no pr<£ cession couldi march without a' permit from the City Council, and if they did march, a prosecution would: follow. The men then decided to approach the Council. The .Council's, officers informed them that no permit was available for some days. They then decided to parade the streets and chance arrest. One man said' that if he w«ya put in gaol, the Government would have to keep him, which was just as well as doing nothing outside. The v constables took the names of four men in the event of a procession being held. • ' ' 8

The men said the procession would happen in spite of the bylaw. On- returning to the Square, a large crowd gathered and one man mounting the packing case, said it was .impossible to get a permit. The Gity Inspector said the~ permit would be available the Mayor were interviewed. At 2 o'clock, the men decided to apply for one, amd if it" were not granted,' they would hold* a procession all the same. It was decided to meet ag-ain at 2 o'clock. .. "