TRADES COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 17 February 1911, Page 8

TRADES COUNCIL.

WEEKLY MEETING. CREDENTIALS OF DELEGATES. .The weekly meeting of the 'Wellington Trades and Labour Council was held in the Trades Hall last evening, Mr. E. J. Carey, presiding over an attendance of •about 38 delegates and several visiting unionists. A letter was received from Mr. W. Gibsou (a retired Kaikoura farmer) asking ■ permission to address the council on the land question. Permission, was given accordingly, • And Mr. Gibson! described the early agitation that led up to the lands' for settlement. policy and the methods of cutting up estates thereafter. At tho close of his address, Mr. Gibson was heartily thanked by the council. Mr.-T. Smith, secretary of tho Wharf Labourers' Union, in a. communication replying to a letter from the in reference to the credentials of the-union delegates, stated that the council's, letter was being considered by the union, but no decision had yet been: arrived at. When- a settlement had been effected tho Trades Council would be notified.

After discussion it was agTeed. by 15 votes' to 12 to refer, the letter back to the union for further explanation. • JDelegatcs from • the .Wharf Labourers' Union did not participate in the division. At'this stage'a delegate invited the chairman's ruling as to the. position of the sitting delegates • of the • Wharf Labourers' Union.

The chairman ruled that, as the union, had not yet definitely elected, any delegates to supersede tho sitting delegates,' the latter were entitled to, attend tho council as representatives of the union. Further, that tho ■■ union could not be disenfranchised because -of the dispute in connection with the:nsatter. The chairman's ruling was challenged,' but on a division it was upheld by. 24 votes.to 11. The Wool, and Grain Stores Employees Union wrote. recommending the appointment of ,Mr. P." M. Findlav as legal ad-, viser to the council and affiliated unions; The matter was referred to thc'Ma'nagcmcnt Committee, which was. instructed to bring down a report, after coiisidfering letters'from other unions oh the subject.

■ Mr. M'Laren reported on the success--ful inauguration of the Woollen Mill Employees'' Union at Petone, - and- 'complimehted Mr. J. Revell, who hid come up specially from Christchurch for the purpose of forming the union. Mr. M'Laren further reported th.it so far.no' union had been formed iij Auckland in the .industry! The council, in adopting tho. report, re : solved' to recommend- the Auckland Trades Council to push on the formation of-a unvjn for tno.industry in its'district. -. Mr. Young, secretary of, the' Seamen's Union, moved, that , the next meeting of.the council be a special meeting to alter the rules of the council so as to Dro.vide that-delegates of unions',.before being accepted as representatives of their unions, be required to sja a pledge of loyalty to the decisions and constitution of the council. The motion was carried by 27 votes .to £ . ■ A delegate brought up'the matter' of a proposal, emanating. from two employees of the Gas Company, that workers in Wellington should -bo required 'to pay apenny per week, out of their Swages, towards, the support of the hospitals s and charitable institutions of the .city. 'The council resolved; to condemn tho proposal. ' 1 On the motion, "of Mr.'Noot, a committee of . three, consisting of .. Messrs.■M'Laren.Kny and Scott,'was set up to assist tho Petone unions ;in organising the workers in. their district. ■A' delegate • gave, notice of.;motion to deal with, the matter of the chairman's ruling in regard to the credentials of the Wharf Labourers 1 .Union delegates.' ' The. meeting then adjourned.