BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS OF CHRISTCHURCH.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 968, 2 August 1877, Page 2

BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS OF CHRISTCHURCH.

A public meeting of the trade in Christchurch took place last evening at the Foresters’ Hall. The room was crowded. Mr R. H. Turner was voted to the chair, and said the object for which the meeting had been called was to take into consideration what steps should be taken towards considering the action of Messrs. Lightband, Allan, and Co. in dismissing about sixty bands, with an intimation, without any previous notice, that an alteration in the present system of working was about to be made, and also in the scale of prices. It was for the meeting, under these circumstances, to ascertain if it was thought desirable to establish a trades’ union in Christchurch for the protection of the trade. The society were at a loss to lay anything definite before the meeting, as no statement had been laid before them as a society, and it was not likely there would be any, as according to a letter that appeared in the papers that day the factory had not only been locked up for a fortnight but for ever; and if. was his (the chairman’s) belief that Mr Allan would not employ any society men, even under the revised terms, and supposing the society agreed to them. No society men were to be employed under any circumstances, and it was for the meeting to suggest a road out of the difficulty.

Mr Williams said it seemed to be distinctly understood that Lightband, Allan and Co. had determined not to employ any society men. The question seemed to him whether the action taken by that company’s employees would be supported by the society, and whether they ought to consider they w r cre a Trades’ Union or not ? He ought to tell them that this would result in a reduction in other factories, and it was too bad after coming 16,000 or 17,000 miles that a larger price should not be obtained here for a fair day’s work than at home. [Cheers.] In a paper received by him lately from home, he had seen an advertisement asking for thirty or forty hands in the trade. Some of the prices given were, in women’s work, 4d by the piece more than was obtained here, and he certainly had donp somp classes pf w r ork in Christchurch at a less price than he had done them at home, lie alluded, of course, to stitch work. Tho Secretary said that with reference (o a letter tvoiq Lightband, Allan and 00,, which appeared that day in the “Lyttelton Times,” some of the men had offered to help the (inn in getting out a fair statement of prices in all classes of work, but the firm refused to rcc( ive any suggestions. The Chairman desired to say that n bis opinion the gist of the object of the meeting was to see what could bo done under the present difficulties, and whether the handful of men in the society would gain sufficient svmpathy from the bootmakers of Christchurch to stand against the strength of the employers. That, in fact, a fair day’s work should receive a fair day’s wage. He trusted that notwithstanding a reporter from the Press was present, each wan would express Ida honest opinion.

A person in the body of the meeting said he was not a member of the society, but was a member of the trade, and if the arbitrary conduct of the firm mentioned was carried to a successful issue, it must soon affect the other members of the trade here. Union was strength, and if they were worth anything as men they would stick together and form a society worthy of the name. [Loud applause.] He would move—“ That every member of the trade present form themselves into a trade society.” The motion was seconded. A speaker in the body of the meeting spoke against the arguments contained in Lightband, Allan’s letter which appeared in the “ Lyttelton Times,” and said that however much Mr Allan might attempt to set himself up as a little demigod, he possibly would find that the shareholders, though a simple bundle of sticks, might, if bound together, be found to him an exemplification of “ Unity is strength,” for he would be but little without the working men. [Applause.] The working men were always the target for competition, but lie would ask them all to become members of the society, as other employers woidd be certain to follow in Mr Allan’s steps if this movement on his part were successful: and he would ask them all to join heart and hand to protect their rights as working men. [Loud applause.] Another person showed that in the old country the employers had formed themselves into a Union, and he thought men here were only protecting their rights in becoming Unionists. The working men were simply protecting themselves by doing so, and he hoped he would never do anything worse than becoming a Union man. A speaker said the present meeting was especially called to obtain the opinions of the outside workmen, and gain their opinions as to whether the best steps to take would be to accept the new terms or turn out. It was merely a desire to have the opinion of the trade as to what should best be done. He woidd like to mention one thing. When paid on last Monday night he was told by the “boss” that whether he accepted the new scale or not, lie woidd for the future have to pay for his own gas. [Disapprobation.] If the wages in one factory were reduced, depend upon it the others would shortly follow. A person in the body of the hall said that, as an employee of another firm, he might say that all the men in the same employ would, gladly support the society, but would not become members of it. He would add that all his brother shopmen were prepared to come out if reduced, as they found they could by co-operation be enabled to work as cheaply as their employers could. The Chairman said, however willing members of other firms might be to assist the society, unless they were prepared to go back to their employers and individually say they were society men, all the help they could give would be useless. [Applause.] Two employees of other firms said their employers had stated they would not lower the present scale of wages, and had not in any way objected to the society. The Chairman then asked why was there an objection on the part of the men to join the society. Two or three persons spoke in favor of all the hands in Christchurch amalgamating ; not to jump on employers or to obtain too high a rate of wages, but simply to get a fair wage. They did not think the employers could do more without the men than the men without the employers ; and if all the shops held out the men by co-operation could as cheaply manufacture the goods as the employers could. What was principally required was to have the opinion of the outsiders as to the present action taken by the handful which formed the society. A workman characterised Lightband, Allan and Co.’s letter in the “ Lyttelton Times” as mere sophistry. As if they obtained their goods 20 or 25 per cent, cheaper than other firms, it was simple nonsense to suppose that the other firms could supply goods to compete with them. Let them form themselves into a union and stick to it to a man. [Loud applause.] In reply to a speaker, the chairman said that Sutcliffe’s and Toomer’s factories had been mentioned personally, as it was known that they were opposed to society men. On the resolution being put —“That a Trade Union be formed and stuck to,” a division took place in the room, nine being against, and about 120 for, the result being announced amici loud and continued applause. The ayes having handed in their names to the secretary, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.