THE LOT OF THE CLERK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 7

THE LOT OF THE CLERK.

PROPOSAL TO FORM A UNION. • AN ABORTIVE MEETING. (B» TeleßraDli-rrmi A«oi:la.ltinl Chrlstchurch, November 25. , A meeting convened by tho Trades and Labour Council for the purpose of forming a , .' clerks' union held Uiia oveninj? proved abortive. .Thcro flcro s,cieEtoeu cleite, moitly young inen, present. ■ A motion was moved by Mr. louug, fccrc- . tary of the council, and seconded by Mr. Uart, member of Iho council, thut it is dosiiablo that , n clerks' union bo formod. ' „ Aji amendment pioposcd by ono clerk that ' all tho fiords nfter "tnat" bo left out was not • bcconded. A motion to adjouui tho moplin(! for a month was negatnod, ah was'also the original motion. Ono of tlio clerks, sneaking to tho motion.-' contended that Iho oflicels oi tho council had not given information or reabous tor Iho formation of a uuion. Another clerk, speaking with considerable experience, stated that he knew that a majority of tho clerks in Christchurch wero ■nell paid j and perfectly Batishcd, - ' Four other cleiks 6unpaitcd him, and stated ' that tho clerks wished to pieserve their own. individuality, and .did not wish lo bo merged \ into tho Tmdos ond Labour Council. In tho paal they had been able to tako caro of their own interests, and could do so in the futuie. > One of tho council olliceis stated that he had ' tho names of vixteeii cleiks who willing lo join tho union, but wero afraid to bo prosent, fearing l that if they woio they might bo sacked. It was his intention (o form a secret ' union of clerks. A vote of thanks was oocorded tho chairman on tho motion of ono dark, who, wlillo thanking tho coimcil for their kindly interest, baid tho clerks wore quite capable ot taking caro of thcinsolvos. The counoil officers Bay that clorks woro not represented at tho mooting, and that tho council's previous rccporionco of sUut> ing unions lmd boon, as in this enso, that thow' desirous of forming tho union did not attend tho initial mooting, being afraid of spies Mho miKht disclose their names to thoir omployer6. Tho prose roporters vfero not allowed to be present.