RELIEF STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1932, Page 5

RELIEF STRIKE

OVER RATE OF PAY

FAVOURED IN SOME CENTRES

(By Telegruph — Per'Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 11 Over niiijiy per cent, ol tne relief workers who have voted in tne ba.ico being taken to determine what action sliouid be taken to resist the new dobvi .scheme, nave unclan] in favour of a strike.

It was stated to-day that out of IIUJ votes tiiiioli, 13JU were m favour of direct action.

The final count will not be completed before the week-end.

it was stated officially at a meeting in Victoria. Square this evening that the ballot taken among the relief workers of Chrisehureh had disclosed a majority in favour of direct action against the new rates of relief • wages, and that the men on the relief works would strike to-morrow.

• No objection would be raised to any man who wished to finislj his, week’s work.

Out of 2000 votes cast, 1700 had favoured the strike.

WELLINGTON STRIKE CONTINUES MEN RECEIVE STAND-BY PAY

WELLINGTON, May 11

The meeting of the relief workers to Jiave been held at the Basin Reserve at ten o’clock, was met by locked gates and by the police. The meeting, therefore did not ‘eventuate.

Two meetings of workers were held at the Trades Hall. Over a thousand relief workers turned up this rooming, receiving the standby pay. it was a very wet rnorn-

Twenty-live jobs were partly man ned.

Protection for those men who stay at work is being considered .

The Winter Show Association have been threatened with the demolition of their buildings if they continue to employ small gangs. About one thousand men were back on the unemployed jobs to-day. Many more would return if assured of protection.

PROPOSALS FOR RELIEF

MEN FOR WA RD REM ITS

WELLINGTON, -May 11

The relief workers’ strike committee to-day decided to submit the following conditions to the Government as the basis of return to work: — Single men to have two days’ work per week at 12s Cd per day.

The reinstatement on relief works of the nlen in the camp.

The married men with none or one child to have three days’ weekly av 12s (3d per day.

Men with two or three children to have four (lavs’ weekly.

Men with four or more children to have five days at 12s 6d. No stand down for any section. Free transport to and from , work. Exemptions from the unemployment levy.

Shelters on all jobs. Fnil pay and no work in >wet weather.

PROTEST AT HAMILTON. AGAINST RELIEF HATES.

HAMILTON, May 11. The Hamilton Unemployment Committee lias decided to enter ij most emphatic protest against the delay in arranging for the application of the new scale*of relief rates to the' Hamilton district, and to the “cut” ol eight hours necessarily imposed oil town workers under the No 5 Scheme during this week and la.st week. ‘‘lt js a little over Lite odds that these continued cuts shor.ld be made,” said the chairman, Dr If . I). Pinfold, at the Committee’s meeting yesterday. ‘‘lt is hard to understand why the Government does not supplement the allocation when the number of men increases. This, increase ;is the cause, of the ‘cuts.’

“Some of I’oe amounts earned are miserable for a civilised country,” said Dr Pinfold. “Some of the single men in the towns receive Ss a week. That, they should he expedit'd to live on that is absolutely ridi-m lons. The low rate .is supposed to induce them to find work elsewhere, hub there is no work in the towns, and tl*e farmers cannot afford any labour. Some of the married men are receiving 12s Gd a week: for two days’ work. “Pkaure t.liiit. to yourselves,, gentlemen. How would you like to receive that for your wife aiul yourself? How can they pn.v rent:' ft moans -that the landlord is beaten, and thenfore cannot pay his taxes. If is the GoveruiiX'iit’s job to give* these men. enough bo live on.”

STRIKE AT CHRISTCHUROII

ONLY PARTIAL SUCCESS

OHRLS'UO ff U B 011, Yuy 12

The relief workers’ strike called lice for today is, s/> far, only partly sueessful. as, on isome jobs, ninety pc cent, of t.io men are < lb is claimed, however, that these men »"ll ‘•‘•■■i-r at the end of ,| lie week. No disturbances have occurred.