NO TRUST IN LEADERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 961, 2 May 1930, Page 10

NO TRUST IN LEADERS

UNEMPLOYED DESPONDENT f MINISTER OUTLINES FUTURE “We can no longer put our trust in loaders—even trade union secretaries. Jt is only by agitation and by demonstrations, keeping a constant pressure on those in power and never slackening in case the few palliatives extended from time to time are withdrawn, that the unemployed are going to get what they"want.” Thus a spokesman of the unemployed. Under the calm, stately walls of St. Matthew's Church, Wellesley Street, si, crowd of about 100 men, representatives of Auckland’s unemployed army, gathered yesterday afternoon to listen to what the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, could tell of the Government’s plans regarding relief. Eefore he spoke, however, several speakers from their ranks harangued Ilia crowd, voicing the need for constantly urging their case on those in power. Immediately after the march to the Town Hall yesterday morning, when the Mayor refused to speak to the crowd, an invitation had been given to Mr. Stallworthy to meet the unemployed He was greeted by applause iis he mounted a table set on the lawn outside St. Matthew’s to address the small crowd. He outlined what the Government had done in the past and promised that work would be found shortly for those who were willing to go to the country. Calling for a show of hands on this latter issue, he declared that only about half of those present were willing to work on the land. “The present system of Government cannot be altered with a wave of the hand. Unemployment is not peculiar to New Zealand and its cure is one that needs the co-operation of all classes,” declared the speaker. The Government had helped all Industries by distributing £8,000,000 In advances to workers and settlers, giving work to plumbers, builders and c»thcr tradesmen. During the past year 20,500 workers had been given employment. “The position is slightly better in Auckland today than a week ago,” Mr. jßtallworthy assured his audience. *T consider you are very unwise in asking for trade union rates when seeking employment you are unskilled in. Tou should be content to ask a little less. The Government, however, will not be a party to cutting wages and w’ill stand by its decision to pay 3 4s a day. “If the unemployed arc not willing to make reasonable sacrifices and want to be a law unto themselves, it will be impossible to help them,” continued the speaker. Many, he said, were taking two jobs instead of giving some one else an opportunity of receiving a living wage. “The Cabinet is preparing an unemployment Insurance Bill, which will be submitted to Parliament at the earliest opportunity,” Mr. Stallworthy announced. Provision was being made for the borrowing of money to cover the year that must elapse before the scheme could be brought into operation. About 350 men were to be employed in Auckland under a scheme the Government had in hand. Already 200 men had been given jobs and the other 150 would soon be absorbed. Throughout the Minister was subjected to a running fire of interjections and comments from certain of his audience, but the larger proportion gave him a quiet hearing. After his talk, Mr. Stallworthy talked individually to a number of the men, taking notes of their complaints and their needs.