COOKS AND WAITERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 968, 8 November 1910, Page 7

COOKS AND WAITERS.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING,

SOME LABOUR PROBLEMS.

The half-yearly meeting of tho AVeilington Cooks' and Waiters' Union, held last evening, wns fairly well attended. The'balance-sheet, showing a substantial credit, was adopted. Tho election of. officers lesnlted in the return of practically all retiring officers, except in one or two cases, where departures from the district necessitated a change. The Arbitration Court. Letters were received from Messrs. J. A. M'Culloußh. and R. Slater, each soliciting the union's recommendation tor tno post of workers' representative on tuo Arbitration Court. It was unanimously resolved to " c ° m " mend the re-appointment of Mr. JlCuilough, members expressing the opinion that ho had very satisfactorily pertormed tho onerous duties imposed on him. The union also decided to. support the re-election of Mr. W. T. Young, of Wellington, as deputy workers' representative on the. Court. Sectional Unionism.

During the evening a member brought up tho question of the action taken by a section of the railway employees in making representations to the Government, with a view to obtaining separate registration. A resolution was carried, without opposition, instructing the secretary to write to tho Premier, urging him to refuse the recognition, applied for, on .the ground that tho application, if granted, would result, in the end, in. splitting up into several factions, what is now ono big union. . . Stress of business prevented any lengthy discussion of the Arbitration Bill and the Shops and Offices Bill, now before Parliament. It was stated that the Labour Bills Coinmitteo will report to the House on these measures within a day or two. The president and secretory were instructed to consider the Bills wlien reported, and convene a meeting of the executive to deal with tho matter, if in their opinion this course should provo necessary.

Clubs and the Award, The non-observanco by tho Wellington Club and the Wellington Working Men s Club of award conditions were brought under the notice of tho meeting by the secretary per medium of inward and outward correspondence. In connection with the Wellington Club, it was alleged in a letter to that institution by the secretary that tho conditions granted its employees did not compare favourably with thoso enjoyed by hotel workers. . Keplies wero received from the club and the matter is still under consideration by the union. , In connection with the Working Wen s Club it was reported that tho wages of its barmen wore in some instances less than the minimum paid to barmen in oven the smallest hotels. .■ In reply to a letter from the union, tho olub wroto asking for copies of the award, and stating that tho matter was under consideration. It is believed by tho union that tho club will remedy the grievance complained of.

'Mr. Tregear's Retirement. An appeal by the Dominion executive for subscriptions towards a fund for the purpose of a presentation to Mr. E. Tregear, retiring Secretary for Labour, was cordially, received by'tho meeting. It. was-decided to donate three guineas. A number of members eulogised Mr. Tregoar's services to Labour and to tho union in particular. . J