The Knights of Labour.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 39, 16 September 1890, Page 4

The Knights of Labour.

The third public meeting under the 'ttusmces of this order was held in the Assembly Rooms on Saturday evening last, and thu attendance though not very large was a thoroughly reprrsentative one. Bro. Watson, of Ealmeriton, attended as a deputation, and answered several questions to the satisfaction of the querists. Several persons gave in their names to join the" order, and paid their entrance fees, most of whom were tradesmen of the town and farmers of the district. The Assembly was afterwards opened by Bro. Watson, and after the preliminary ceremonies the new candidates were' initiated. Elections then took place for eight of the principal officers, the remaining offices to be filled at- the next meeting, amongst o,t her business, resolutions were passed as L f ollows : — . the Forester's Hail be engaged at the usual fortnightly meeting's for fur one .quarter, the next meeting to be held in, a fortnight hence. .That the Assembly is in sympathy with, bushfeiler's Union so far as it is acquainted with its objects, and will assist it in every manner consistent with the principles of the order, and with' this end the secretary of the Assembly confer with the secretary of thelUniun. with a view to avoiding as far as possible the ordinary meetings of .the two bodies taking place at the same iime. Th 6 following important r6solutidniß were also carried :■ — That, whereas it -has come to the knowledge of the members of this Local Assembly that a large number of . the- general public are under the impression that the Knights ol Labor in New Zealand are associated with the Maritime Council and the various Trades, ; and iL'ab<ir Councils of the colony in the present strike proceedings, and whereas it is essentially necessary that the position of this Assembly ' be clearly denned at the present crisis, it be now resolyed to pubiicly r .n,otity tiiat the limited Assembly of Feiidiug, has as yet taken no. act or part whatever, in the strikes now. goiug' oh in the organisations under the jurisdiction of the aforesaid Councils, and, further, that there is no federation ,of thi^ Assembiy with -any of the aforesaid organisations. That 7 whereas the enactment of laws providing for arbitration . between employers and employed, and enforcing -the decision of the arbitrators, is a/part of the preamble and declaration of our principles, and whereas it is laid down in our constitution that no strike shall be entered into or • authorised until every possible effort -has. been. made to settle the, difficulty by arbitration, it. be now resolved. ' That this Assembly views with very ►■deep the serious, position of £the present labor difficulties, and calls *on every member to use his best en'deavors^.to persuade employers and Employed to proceed to arbitration or : of these difficulties with- : - out L a iJQomerit's delay. After a hearty vote of thanks had been accorded to Bro. Watson, the -Assembly closed in due form.