STARVING UNEMPLOYED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 245, 6 January 1928, Page 7

STARVING UNEMPLOYED

WITHOUT fOOD FOR THREE DAYS ALARMING STATEMENTS IN CHRISTCHURCH

CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. THAT some of their number had been without food for three days was stated by members of a deputation representing- 632 unemployed men which attended at the City Council to wait upon the deputy-Mayor to-day. (Special to THE SVHJ

CHRISTCHURCH, Thurs. 'P’OLLOWING upon a meeting held at Victoria Square this morning a deputation of about 50 unemployed went to the City Council Chambers to wait upon the deputy-Mayor, Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., to ask for his assistance. They protested strongly against the treatment meted out by the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, claiming that the food supplied was not sufficient, and that they were not in a condition to work for a whole day before getting it. A sub-committee appointed by the unemployed has taken a census of those out of work, and it was reported that to-day 632 men were without jobs. At the meeting in Victoria Square there was certainly a hungry, wretched looking collection of men. Some stated that they had had no food for three days, and some that they had not touched meat for a week. While some stood others lay on the ground too weak to stand. “WORK NOT CHARITY” J. Brightmore made the first speech. “We do not want charity,” he said. “What we want is work from the Hospital Board. The men need food before they can work, and yet they have to do a day’s work for the board before they can get 12s 6d worth of food, mainly cereals, which is to last them for a week. Men are being put off from many jobs, and although it is stated that reconstruction work on the Papanui tram lines is being proceeded with, men have been put off by the

Tramway Board. The food we get from the Hospital Board is also not sufficient for any man with a family. It was then suggested that a subcommittee from the meeting should interview the deputy-Mayor, but finally it was decided that the whole body should go. Many would not register at the unemployment bureaux because they considered such a course was futile. That was why registrations w r ere so much smaller than the actual number out of work. Among the ranks of the 632 •were carpenters, clerks, plumbers and various tradesmen, as well as a large number of unskilled labourers. The men trooped round to the City Council Chambers and went into the council room, but Mr. Sullivan was not in. The men waited for half-an-hour, and then telephoned to his private house, a message being received that Mr. Sullivan could not possibly get into the city that day, but would be pleased to see the unemployed the following day at noon. The town clerk, Mr. J. S. Neville, was then bombarded with questions, but he explained that he could do nothing. The men explained that the position was urgent as they had no food in their homes and could not get any until the next day, because although they were to go to the Hospital Board that afternoon the board would insist upon a day’s work before any food was issued. After a long talk the men decided to place the case before the Hospital Board and endeavour to get an issue of food to-day.