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Thanks to the offer by the
custodian of some historic records of the National Unemployed Workers Movement
of the 1930’s, the following extracts are printed. To a small but significant degree,
they indicate the harsh conditions imposed on unemployed workers and their
efforts to organise the fight back. The Year is 1935, the sixth year of the
Great Depression …
NATIONAL UNEMPLOYED
WORKERS MOVEMENT
National Executives Report
The N.U.W.M’s campaign for increased
relief around the demand for 10/- increase
per week for all unemployed, had nationwide support. On March 13th (1935), the day on which the demands were presented to the Government and
the Unemployment Board, protest demonstrations and protest meetings took place
widely throughout the country. (Auckland was silent.) The pressure of this
protest movement, moved the Government and the Unemployment Board; a Conference
of 55 M.P’s discussed the demands.
The 10/- increase to all unemployed was
not granted, but the following points were conceded to the unemployed :-
1. Another issue of working boots.
2. Issue of pairs of blankets to Relief
workers, same basis as boots.
3. Increasing the
amount of money earned by applicant for relief or his dependants, before usual penalty
is imposed.
4. Recognition by the Board of
Adolescents. Youths from 16 to be recognised
by the Board at 4/- per week. However the maximum earning capacity, namely 2/ 4
/- per week, not to be exceeded.
5 Abolition of stand-down periods when
applicants have been in employment for any duration.
6. Govt rations to be introduced as from May
1st.
7. Conference of Certifying Officers to be
held in Wellington. Wider powers to be granted in the handling of local
anomalies.
8. The issue of free milk to families on
application as Govt rations.
9. Raising Class C. ( Country workers ) to
class D. This is an increase of 3/- per
week for married men and 2/6d for single.
These may be of minor value in alleviating
the distress amongst the Unemployed, nevertheless they are the hard won
victories of mass action.
Build A Greater
Mass Movement. Continue the Fight for
10/- Per Week Increase All Round.
Date of the
above circular is late March or early April 1935.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Extracts:
National Unemployed
Workers Movement
G.T. Mouncer,
National Secretary
G.P.O Box 889,
Wellington
11.May 1935
National Campaign Circular
National Fight For 10/- Increased Relief
: In Wellington the struggle for our national demand has been
carried forward with a great deal of success.
A More Relief Council was formed
and a series of mass deputations to the more relief have been organised and on each occasion
successful.
First, milk tokens were granted. The second
deputation succeeded in getting grants of 2/6d for all present in cash.
The last and largest mass demonstration succeeded in forcing the Mayor to immediately
grant 500 pounds for more relief.
ALL NEW ZEALAND SLAVE CAMP CONGRESS AUG 31ST TO SEPT. 1ST
From all over New Zealand, the National
Executive is being confronted with demands from single and married men’s camps,
for some direction as to the
Unemployment Board’s utter disregard as to the wages and conditions in backblock
camps. The Nat Exec. has definitely
set aside Aug. 31st and Sept 1st for
two day conference of delegates from Camp Committees.
The
demands are as follows :
1. Full trade
union rates of pay for all camp work.
2. All camps to
be voluntary.
3. Free transport to and from camps.
4. Full Pay when sick.
5. Recognition of
Camp Committees to present local demands.
6. One