STRIKE DECISION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1932, Page 6

STRIKE DECISION

BY RELIEF WORKERS. [By Telegraph, Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 26. Whether all the work on relief jobs should cenjse until standard wages were paid was the question placed before a mass meeting of the relief workers held in the Winter Show Buildings this evening. There was an attendance of over two thousand. Although a motion favouring a strike, was declared carried'by a delegate on the platform, it was impossible to determine the exast position, on account of there being pandemonium. The meeting lasted for two hours. Delegates were present from the Hutt, Eastbourne, Kbandallab, Happy Valiev and Wellington. The majority of speakers, if not all. criticised the Number 5 Scheme, and the conditions under which they were asked to work, and they advocated “direct action.” HOSPITAL BOARD DECISION. ADVICE TO WORKERS. WELLINGTON. January 26. The Social Welfare Committee of the Wellington HosbitaJ Board has decided that any man who refuses to work, when it is available, will be refused relief. Regarding the relief wrtrk strike, tlie Trades and Labour Council today decided to recommend the relief workers in the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne to return to work, tlie Council undertaking to seek redress for their grievances, and to endeavour to settle the question of standard wage payment by negotiation. MEN URGED TO RETURN. COMMITTEE OFFERS SERVICES. WELLINGTON, January 27. The Trades and Labour Council’s unemployment committee, after giving consideration to tlie situation in connection with relief works at Lower Hutt, Petone, and Eastbourne, passed a resolution recommending that, in view of the conditions existing throughout the country, the men should return to work. Tlie committee offered its services, on behalf of its unemployed members, to secure for them any redress of their present grievances that it is possible to obtain by negotiation, and to continue its demand for Trade Union wages, conditional upon all work undertaken. RELIEF WORKERS’ ATTITUDE. WELLINGTON, January 27. Relief workers are being urged by a iftirfiher'of’'bodies "arid" promiVient labour men, to heed wiser'counsels and refrain from participating in a strike. A special committee was set up by tlie relief workers themselves, as distinct from all other organisations will visit the gangs and endeavour to persuade the men to remain on the jobs. Ths committee lias arranged for a secret ballot for which forms are already printed. Those who are urging tlie men to return to work, declared that the Eastbourne job should never have been declared relief work.