Meath Chronicle
1932

Haggard faces and starvation
A meeting of the unemployed of Kells and District was held in the Town Hall, Kells, on Monday night. There was close on one hundred men present. Mr. James Smith, Fyanstown, was moved to the chair.

The Chairman said there was no need to explain what unemployment meant to them but it was only right that they should open their eyes to the fact that they were not being treated as they should be, he suggested that they should form a body, the same as every other organisation, and demand their rights as citizens of the country. The amount they were receiving from the Board of Health was altogether unfair. A man with a wife and six or eight children could not live on 8s a week, and even for that amount he had to give two days work at Loyd to the Urban Council.

The Chairman said every available man should turn out and march to Trim on Wednesday morning and demand a living of some sort. ‘It is just as well to march over to Trim as to be standing round the corners. We can all assemble at the Town Hall at nine o’clock on Wednesday morning, and I will guarantee you will have a good day’s sport if nothing more.’

Mr. Eddie lrwin asked how could a man live on 8s a week. ‘Look at the haggard faces and the starvation. I have a wire and six children and get eight shill-ings to live on. There is no smile on the faces of the poor man's child. If war breaks out who does the fighting? The labouring man. Who won the Great War? Labourers, Sweeps and Tinkers! Who put in the present Government? The Labouring man. It would be better for them to be in gaol as they would be supported in there.’

Historical Note
None really, other than the fact that James Smith was my great grandfather!

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