MASS MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1932, Page 5

MASS MEETING

UNEMPLOYED IN WELLINGTON. DISSATISFACTION AT RELIEF. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. Trouble h..s arisen among the unemployed on the Eastbourne sewerage works- It has originated, it is under, -stood, through tile desire of the men to know if they would rece.ve t. eir pay and be released from work to-c.a,v in time to purchase meat before tholm teller's shops dosed at five o’clock, as, ow.r.g to the Butchers’ Picnic-be-ing held on Saturday, the butchers w.ll be dosed till Monday.

Oae of the men was appointed to find out. and leit work to discuss tlu matter with a man in another gang yesterday, with a view to these two approaching the engineer when lie arrived. The engineer, Mr Maitland, interviewed Mr Hourigan, the man in qestion, also Mr Edwards, of the other gang, and the engineer informed them that they were to report at the Lower Hutt yards this morning. Anticipating trouble, the men ’met last night, and they formed an org ur’sation called the Relief Workers’ Branch of the Industrial Union of Workers, and this organisation decided that the two men should not be victimised. When the two men reported for work this morning they were ordered to another job, and the rest of the men deemed them to have been unfairly treated, and refused to board the bus for Eastbourne. There was a subsequent mass meeting, at which it was decided that if the men’s request were not granted, all of the relief work in . tli.e Hutt Valley should be declared “black.”

The mass meeting was attended by from GOO to 700 men. A deputation is being sent to the Mayor of Lower Hutt this afternoon.

Another mass meeting is being held this afternoon.

APPEAL TO THE PARENTS.

TO KEEP CHILDREN AT SCHOOL.

WELLINGTON, Jan. 21

An appeal to parents to keep their children at school for another year, when it is found that employment cannot be obtained, is made by the Minister of Education, in a statement to the “Dominion.” The Minister reviews the diffiuilties facing those parents who are trying to find work for boys :t:.d girls leaving school ami urges that those who have not secured a Proficiency certificate should return to school, and that those who have won the right to a free secondary education should take advantage of it, at least until the prospects on the labour market improve.-.-He had intended calling a conference of educational authorities to consider the problem, but in view' of the need for economy, had decided that better work could be done by keeping in touch with local organisations.