WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WORK STOPPED.

STANDARD WAGES DEMANDED

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 26

Eastbourne, an expanding residential borough across the harbour from Wellington, was pluming itself a week or so ago upon the" assurance of those in local authority that within a year or so it would have both municipal drainage and municipal water, making it the most attractive spot in the environs of the Capital City. The mayor of the borough had explained to the rate payers the advantages they would obtain from the innovation and the residents as a whole had blessed him for his enterprise and applauded him for his success. It was the privilege of His Worship to turn the first sod in the enterprise and to recite the many blessings bestowed upon the community by the introductions of these innovations. Needless to say the residents of the borough were greatly elated by the prospect of all the good things that were awaiting them ; but, as matters turned out, their rejoicing was a little premature. HOLIDAY RESOLUTION. During the first two or three days on the excavation work—the first necessity towards the preparation for the sewage and the waiter supply the “unemployed” hands were reported- to be doing passing well, not more than a fourth of them leaning on their shovels at the same time; but by the middle of the week, it is reported, much of their activity had evaporated, and after the enjoyment of the Well-' ington Anniversary none of them returned to work, the job was declared “black” and the executive of the Relief Workers’ section of the General Labourers’ Union, after a lengthy dis cussion adopted the following resolution unanimously: “That a meeting ol all the relief workers in Wellington he called on Tuesday evening, such meeting he advertised in the Press with the fololwing resolution—“ The complete cessation of work on relief jobs until standard wages are paid.’ This meeting is to. be held to-niglil and is sure to be interesting.

ANYTHING BUT UNANIMOUS. The “Evening Post” has taken upon itself to say that many of the “unemployed” workers upon the Eastbourne job are by no means in harmony with the extreme demands of the General Labourers’Union. “It is perfectly clear to one who moves among the men on strike at Lower llutt”, it says, “that the deision to knock off work is anything hut pleasing to many of them. They would go back at once if they followed their own strong wishes.” The “Dominion , in the course of a leading article, gives sortie credence of a story to the effect that the trouble had its origin in an uncivil answer given by one in authority to a reasonable request; but it joins with other authorities in denouncing that the suggestion that all work on relief jobs should cease until standard wages are paid. “Everyone knows full well”, it says, “that such a proposition is quite out of the question.” But the General Labours’ Union, apparently, does not move by way of knowledge.

LABOUR’S REPRESEXTATIVES

One might have hoped that the members of the Labour Party in the new House of Representatives would have taken some trouble to enlighten the great body of workers throughout the Dominion upon the difficulties besetting the Government at the present time. But apparently the leader of the party and his seasoned colleagues are far more anxious to embarrass the Coalition Government than they arP to assist in lightening the burden besetting the country. Mr H- E. Holland’s scheme for an additional loan of twenty-five millions forthwith was far more astounding than Sir Josep i Ward’s proposal for a loan of seventy millions spread over a period of ten years. That twenty-five millions La 'hour dangled before electors tw months ago could have been exhausted in less than a year, and by that time the “unemployed” would be m much worse straits than they are today.