CANADA’S WORKLESS.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18704, 2 August 1932, Page 7

CANADA’S WORKLESS.

CONVERGING ON OTTAWA. UNEMPLOYED CONFERENCE. TO MARCH ON PARLIAMENT* United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Aug. 2, 10.15 a.m.) OTTAWA, Aug. 1. Travelling ’by automobile, freight car, and on footV band -of unemployed, estimated between 200 and 300 arrived at Ottawa over the week-end to attend the workers’ economic conference which is scheduled to begin un Monday. Before the week is out the leaders of the movement declare that 1200 men will be in the capital. A march on Parliament has been planned for Tuesday, when an attempt to see Mr R. R. Bennett, the Prime Minister, to present the demands will be made. These are said to include a noncontributary employment insurance for civilians and 1 dollar 10 cents per day cash for unemployed war veterans. DEMANDS FORMULATED. i • NATIONAL COUNCIL ASSEMBLES. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received Aug. 2, 10.45 a.m.) OTTAWA, Aug. 1. Seven hundred delegates to the National Conference of Unemployment Councils’met in an abandoned garage on Monday and passed resolutions urging a non-contributory unemployment insurance, shorter working days, the cessation of police terror, exemption for all poor farmers from taxes and debt and rent payments. _ There were scores of women in the crowd. An ex-soldier division included former offleers of Canadian 'corps, (one of whom won the Distinguished Flying Cross), at least one lawyer, and two former preachers. t TO MEET MR BENNETT. A CLASH THREATENED. MOVE LARGELY COMMUNISTIC. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel._C.opy right (Received August 2, 12.15 p.m.) OTTAWA, August 1. Those attending the so-called Workers’ Economic Conference are members of Workers’ and Ex-Servicemen’s League, and the national unemployed councils. Both are regarded as Communistic and therefore illegal. The campers are being fed by the Workers’ International Relief 'Organisation. Mr R. A. Bennett has agreed to receive seven delegates to-morrow provided they are not Communists. Their demands include a vote of 10 dollars weekly, the release of imprisoned labour agitators, the removal of Canada’s embargo on Russian goods, a seven-hour day and five-day week, the stoppage of shipments of food and war materials to Japan, and the repeal of those tariffs and taxes' keeping up the prices of necessities. •. There is every likelihood of a clash with the authorities to-morrow. The police are prepared for emegencies. The leaders of the unemployed threaten to summon large reinforcements in the event of the demands not being conceded.