RELIEF PAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 13, 13 December 1932, Page 8

RELIEF PAY

PROTEST AGAINST REDUCTION. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 12. During divine service at St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, Grey Lynn, on Sunday, the congregation decided that a message should be sent to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, expressing its deep concern at the “feeling which has been created in many minds as the result of the recent action of the Government in further reducing the already inadequate remuneration of relief workers.” The congregation respectfully urged the Government immediately to restore the 10 per cent, cut in relief pay. After the minister. Rev. E. H. Kedgley, had made the intimations for the week, he announced that a very unusual process was about to be adopted. He said ho would not contemplate such an unorthodox procedure if it were not for the strong feeling of St. Peter’s Session that the serious situation which had arisen in Auckland warranted extraordinary action. He read the motion, and two members of the session, standing up, moved and seconded it. He then said: “I will ask those in favour of the motion to rise and those who oppose it to retain their seats.” The congregation rose in a body, and the minister declared the motion had been carried unanimously. To-day the resolution was forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Employment, and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Kedgley stated to-day that the cut in relief pay had been discussed last Wednesday night by the kirk session, speakers evincing grave concern of the possible consequences if the cut should be continued. It was agreed that the situation warranted an expression of opinion from the congregation, and a suitable motion was framed and adopted unanimously by the session for submission to the congregation on Sunday. “We know the situation in Grey Lynn intimately,” said Mr Kedgley. “and we have been deeply concerned regarding the bitter feeling that has arisen since the cut was made in relief pay. Only reinstatement of the reductions will prevent an ugly situation arising.”

MILLERTON DEPUTATION

Per Press Association. WESTPORT, Dec. 12. A deputation of 43 unemployed from Millerton came into town to-day and interviewed the deputy-chairman of the Buller Hospital, Mr Fox, in the absence of the chairman, Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, who is at Nelson. The deputation stressed their dire necessity in view of the cuts in unemployed allowances and the stand-down week, and also waited on Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., who got in touch with, the Minister of Employment, and ascertained from him that a meeting of Cabinet was being held tonight, and that a decision would be made known in the morning. In the meantime the unemployed are waiting in town, the board having given orders for tea, bed and breakfast. Failing some relief, a member of the deputation stated women would come and join them in their protest. They state that they are worse off than unemployed elsewhere. They have no garden or means of supplementing their earnings at Millerton, and there is no fund there from which assistance can be given such as mayors’ funds in the cities. DEPUTATION IN SOUTH. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Dec. 12. A deputation comprising members of the executivei of the Relief Workers’ Union and the Relief Workers’ Association, with Mr W. McChesney, Mayor of South Invercargill, waited on the assistant engineer of Public Works, the chairman of. the Southland Unemployment Committee, and the officer in charge of the Labour Department today, when an agreement was reached to avoid loss of pay through wet weather. The position now is that the men can work additional days and so have them in reserve against time lost under any conditions.