POLICE CALLED IN.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20100, 2 December 1930, Page 11

POLICE CALLED IN.

CITY COUNCIL OFFICES INVADED. UNEMPLOYED SEEK THE MAYOR. There was a very sudden termination of the conference of representatives of local bodies with members of the Unemployment Board, in the City Council Chamber yesterday morning. Mr F. L. Hutchinson had just replied to the expression of opinion by the delegates, when unemployed in sufficient numbers to fill the public gallery marched into the Chamber.

"This is a private, not a public meeting," said the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) as the men entered. Mr A. P. Marshall, secretary of the Christchurch Group of the Communist Party, urged the men to take seats, and they ignored the Mayor's hint. His rejoinder was to close the conference immediately, and the delegates rose to leave. Speaking loudly from the gallery, Mr Marshall said they had come to j>ut their case before the conference, carrying out the decision of a meeting attended by over 200. "We want to know what is going to be done," he demanded. No notice was taken of these remarks, and the delegates continued to trickle out of the Chamber. Invited to Leave. I'ive of the unemployed gathered round Cr. J. W. Beanland on the landing, and he was heard to say forceful'y to one of them: "Get out of it, for God's sake!" Mr Marshall returned to the gallery and told the others they had been refused a hearing. "Shall we go round, and drag some of them out?" he asked. The gallery voted approval by a show of hands. Then a quest for the Mayor commenced. "It is not a fair deal/' said Cr. Beanland. "You are being fooled about by one or two Communists from Wellington. If you writ© to the Mayor, you will be received." Mr W. E. Leadley was then the centre of a storm party, but he refused to address the men. "Don't let him out by the back way; all hands downstairs," someone advised, and there waa a rush to the ground floor. "The case of the unemployed is more important than these deadheads. We are not going to get a job for two or three weeks. What's the good of that?" said Mr Marshall.

The Mayor came to the door of the Town Clerk's room. "I am not going to see you," he announced. Mr Marshall: You are a little bit shy! Come out, we won't eat you! A sergeant of police appeared, and took up a position close to the demonstrators. Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., came downstairs, and was immediately surrounded by a clamouring crowd. "Cr. Beanland chased the single men away," one of them said. Case of Single Men. Cr. Sullivan said the ease of the married men was more urgent. Women and children must receive first consideration, but the single men had to bo provided for. It was of no use sending them to the country, for there was no work there.

A voice: There is a crowd of men. here who will get no dinner. . Cr. Sullivan said the City Council nad spent a great deal of money, and would continue to do something. A voice: How about the levy; you helped to pass the Bill? "Yes, I helped to pass it, and I'm glad I did," said Cr. Sullivan. "We tried to have the levy graduated, but were outvoted." He was certain the Board would find a way out of the difficulty without unemployed men being debarred from work and sustenance through nonpayment. A constable walked in, and stood between the unemployed and the Mayor's room.

Cr. Sullivan said the Bill would give j them something in place of nothing. "Try and help us to make it work," he urged. "I am not going to answer questions from you," Cr. Sullivan told Mr Marshall, who replied: "I'm not here to be bullied." Cr. Sullivan: Get away, get out. I don't want to be bothered with you. Police Sergeant Intervenes. Mr Marshall still interrupting, Cr. Sullivan said: "Keep quiet. Put him out, will you," he appealed to the sergeant. The latter moved towards Mr Marshall, but allowed him to remain. Cr. Sullivan said he would send a telegram immediately to the Commissioner of Unemployment, and ask him what was going to be done for the single men. Mr J. Porter: We don't think any more of you for asking the man of law to put one of us out. Mr Marshall: Tell the Mayor to see us. Cr. Sullivan said subsequently that he did not think any man unable to pay the levy would be sent to gaol. Then there was a movement out into Manchester street, where there were two other constables. Mr K. J. McKegnie addressed the crowd from the steps. "Are we going to walk about starving 1 ?" he asked. "I am not going to starve for any man. We are not going to talk about Russia. We are going to see the Mayor, and we are out for three feeds a day. I am a native of Christchurch, and a descendant of pioneers." "That is what you get for putting Labour in power," a woman in his audience remarked. Mr Porter then said another meeting would be held this morning, and the crowd drifted away.