CANTERBURY SEAMEN'S UNION

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1625, 6 May 1879, Page 4

CANTERBURY SEAMEN'S UNION

A regular meeting of this newly organised society was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lyttelton, last Friday night. About thirty members were present. The president, Mr S. E. Webb, opened the meeting, and stated that he hoped the members would make it a rule to be punctual in their attendance, so that the business could be commenced sharp at eight o'clock. The president stated that a committee meeting had been held, but the rules of the Union not yet being adopted, no business of importance was done at it. The several rtdes comprised in the revised code used by the Seamen's Union of Victoria, had been adoptod at the previous meetings of the Canterbury Union with a few trifling alterations, and with the exception of Eule No. 3. This rule was then passed by the meeting to read as follows:—" That the wages for seamen sailing out of Canterbury shall, for the time being, bo—For seamen before the mast in sailing vessels on the coast, £6 per month ; in steamers, £7 ; firemen, £10; trimmers, £B. And the master shall not discharge his crew at his own option, but only by mutual consent, and no member shall sign under any other agreement." It was resolved —" That 500 copies of the complete rules be printed, and that Messrs Philp and Dass be a committee to have the same done." The president then stated that the treasurer had received from Mr McQuilken the balance in favour of the Union left in that gentleman's hands, namely, £7 2t 6d. This sum made up a total in the treasurer's hands of £l4 3s. Mr Bennington proposed that the meetings bo held every Friday night instead of upon alternate Fridays. The interval was too long between the meetings, and thus the interest in the society appeared to flag. It would be, in the speaker's opinion, better to hold a meeting weekly, at least for the first six months. The president called attention to the circumstance that Mr Bennington's proposition was equivalent to an alteration in tbo rules already adopted, and such a change should be undertaken by giving first a notice of motion to bo discussed at a future meeting. The president thought the change undesirable, inasmuch as the expense of hall rent, light, &c, would just be double what it was at present, and this he thought would be too heavy for a young society to undertake. There was no fear but that seamen desirous of joining would find some means of doing so. It was decided with reference to banking the money, as provided by the rules, that for the present the funds be left in the treasurer's hands until the preliminary disbursements are made. The bank matter was therefore left in abeyance. It was announced that the monthly contributions were due, and several members responded by paying in their dues. The meeting then adjourned to meet next Friday week.