STRIKERS DEFIED

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1932, Page 6

STRIKERS DEFIED

EFFORT TO STOP WORK FAILS,

“GO BACK TO RUSSIA.”

( By Telegraph —Per Press Association,

HUNTLEY, April 4

Sixty strikers marched three miles from Huntley to Kimihia' and marie efforts to stop seven relief workers from carrying out drainage work. They were given a poor reception by the men on the job.

A clash looked likely at one stage, but the arrival of three policemen soon put' an end to any' suggestion of trouble. One sturdy little Cockney brandished his shovel and cried: “Go hack to Russia, where you came from. You might be able to get away. with this- sort of stuff in Auckland, but you can’t put it over us here. If you want to stop us from working, come down in the drain and try to pull us out. Give it a go and see how you get on.” After much abuse from both sines, the strikers went their way, shouting about the Government.

AUCKLAND '"WOMAN PROMINENT. One Auckland woman Communist who was the central figure in a recent eviction case has been a prominent figure among the strikers. She is said to have unscrewed and thrown away the number plates of a police car. A fund 1 ha s been opened by the unemployed workers’ movement for the relief of distressed families. Jhe tradespeople are to he canvassed for subscriptions or donations of food, j The strains of “The Red Flag’ , sung I tunelessly by the 160 strikers and a ! few women, have provided a novelty I for the residents ol Huntley. 11 men refuse to work, and claim all sorts of quaint considerations befoio they will go hack to their jobs. The demand for higher wages w the main claim, although one of their o-rounds for refusing to work on the drains is that the occupation is uncongenial.