SYDNEY UNEMPLOYED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5245, 29 February 1928, Page 1

SYDNEY UNEMPLOYED.

HUNGRY MEN’S PLIGHT.

HAVE THEY RIGHT TO 1 STEAL ’

Mr J. S. Garden told the Chief Secretary (Mr Bruntnell) that if a man had no food he was liable to commit theft to secure it, says a Sydney paper. He reminded the Minister that Cardinal Manning had declared that a man lacking the bare necessaries of life was entitled to tke them from . his neighbour—if he could.

Mr Garden led. a deputation op behalf of the unemployed of Sydney, who had threatened a grand rally gmd procession to the Department of the Chief Secretary.

The deputation stated that married men had been deprived of their money for as they had drawn money to pay rent which was in excess of the allowance for food.

Single men complainedl that, while they had been provided wdth room* and utensils for cooking, they had no food.

An appeal was made also for the establishment of a camp for unemployed, ini which eacih man would have a tent. The camp could be run Qn military lines, with food provided. Mr Garden stated that men who sought meal tickets at the Labour bureau at Circular Quay on Tuesdays and Fridays sometimes had to wait in a small over-crowded room from 7 a.m. until dinner time before they received tickets. Men had had their arms broken in the rush. Afterwards they had to go to Campbell Street for food. Mr Bruntnell told the deputation that he would make immediate investigations. He would consult Cabinet regarding the issuing of tents to shelterless men, and would secure a new arrangement for the distribution of the meal, tickets.

Work had already been found for 20,000 men, he said, and more would be found when tlje Premier (Mr Bavin) returned.