CRISIS IN LONDON.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1921, Page 5

CRISIS IN LONDON.

LABOR’S NEW FIGHT,

DEMAND FOR DOLES. SOME STORMY SCENES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Sept. 1. Headed by a banner reading: "During the war you fought for your bosses; now fight for yourselves,” ten thousand unemployed marched to the offices of the Woolwich guardians, while a deputation of 25 went in and demanded 25s each for man and wife, 8s for each child, in addition to rent. The guardians refused, and offered a maximum of 60s for a man, wife and six children; all incomes to be deducted. Stormy scenes then commenced. Members of the deputation placed chairs against the doors and refused to allow any one to enter or leave the room until the demapd of the unemployed was granted and members of the deputation took possession of the dais, despite protests from the guardians.

Received Sept. 2, 8.5 p.m. London, Sept. 2. The police ultimately cleared the invaders out of the Woolwich guardians’ chambers.

Extraordinary scenes were witnessed at Islington when the first payments under the new scale of relief to the unemployed were made. Long queues lined up early in the morning, the officers working till midnight dealing with 2800 cases. Many recipients were indignant at receiving relief in kind instead of cash. It is estimated that Islington’s payments this week will exceed the proceeds of a farthing rate. There were ugly scenes in St. Paneras, where hundreds assembled outside the offices of the guardians, who declined to grant relief unless the cases were considered on their individual merits. A deputation of unemployed at first refused to leave the offices, and then threatened to smash every window in High Street.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.

A GRAVE ASPECT. COMMUNISTIC ORIGIN ALLEGED. Received Sept. 2, 10.45 p.m. London, Sept. 1. It i« alleged that the demonstrations by unemployed have a communistic origin and are directed by the national administrative council of the unemployed, with headquarters at Islington, which ha<s divided the country into five areas, and where the local delegates meet. One of the men sentenced at Hackney shouted, on leaving dock: “Roll on the revolution.”

The Daily Mail’s political correspondent states the Government’s advisers believe the unemployed demonstrations are fostered by communistic organisations and are designed ultimately to wreck the system of local government There is evidence that the movement is spreading to the provincial cities. The Ministry of Health has warned the guardians that it will use its powers to ■ltop extravagant; relief.