RELIEF STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1932, Page 2

RELIEF STRIKE

MEN AT WAIMAKARIRI. COLLECTION TO BE MADE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association J CHRISTCHURCH, April 4. Following representations made by ■■ deputation, which waited on the Christchurch City Council to-night regarding tile wages and conditions offered on 1 lit* Wnimakariri River Trust’s relief works, the Council decided to protest to the Unemployment Board against its decision to pay 37s 6d for 40 hours’ work a week. ■■■Tlte deputation was from the Strike Committee of the unemployed lhon. who are refusing to accept- (lie work on these terms. In the course of the discussion, it was stated that the Trust had wished to pay 10s per day for a 48 hours week, but the Unemployment Board had told the representatives of the Trust that the question of the wages to be paid was the Board’s business. After a long debate, the City Council decided to allow tt street collection to be made on a date to he ’fixed, for the relief of tho distress among the Waimakariri River Trust- workers, now on strike against the conditions ot work and the wages (37/6 for 40 hours) offered by the ! Unemployment Board. A condition is that the amount collected is to he paid to the City Treasurer, to he administered by the Mayor, for the benefit of the people for whom the money is raised. The application came to the Council through the By-laws and Finance Committee, which had received a letter from the Strikers' Committee of Action, asking permission to take up a collection for the men’s strike fund committee. It was recommended that the request be granted. The motion was amended on Mayor Sullivan’s suggestion. During the debate. tile Labour members of the Council declared that the men were not on strike. They had merely refused to accept 37/6 for five days’ work. They had not been at work, and therefore they con'd not be on strike.

Permission was < nted, without a division being taken.

STRIKE MOVEMENT EXTENDING. CHRISTCHURCH, April 4. Endeavours to widen the scope of the relief workers’ strike, were decided on at a mass meeting of unemployed in the Trades Hall to-day. It- was reported that Hilltop Camp for single men had been declared black, and that measures were being taken to resist the institution of tinfive days’ scheme in Ashley County and elsewhere. Offers of help were received from Otago and the West Coast.