TRAMWAY UNION AND BELGIAN FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17281, 23 September 1916, Page 11

TRAMWAY UNION AND BELGIAN FUND.

TO THK EBITOB. Sir, —Kindly allow mo a portion of your valuable space to put the position correctly in reference to tlio Christchurch Tramway Employees' Union and the Belgian and other patriotic funds. The Tramway Union on September 10, 1914, forwarded the following letter to the Right Hon Mr W. F. Massey, Prime Minister:— Dear Sir,—l have tho honour, by direction of tho Christchurch Tramway Employees’ Union, to respectfully submit, far tho consideration of the Government, the following resolution which was carried at its mooting on Tuesday, September 8: —“ That tho Government bo urged to immediately levy ft war lax, by means of an increased graduated land tax upon Jurge landowners, and an increased graduated income ti.x upon large incomes, on a percentage basis, for the purpose of adequately providing for the dependents of those who ere assisting to fight the battles of tho Empire, and to provide work for the unemployed,! and thus do its duty upholding the prestige of this'Dominion.” —Yours faithfully, H. Jiuutor, Secretary.

The above resolution indicated very plainly the union's opinion that the system of soliciting voluntary subscriptions from the public is most unfair and inequitable, as it is well known that the voluntary Iniethod faib> to reach those best able to contribute, the generous individual responds to every appeal but the other- kind never give anything. Tbo only fair way is to levy a tax and mako every person pay according to ability. Whilst the union as an organised body took a stand on principle its member's were left free to follow their own inclinations, and I am, on suro ground when 1 claim that the tramway men of Christchurch have done more than their share towards the various funds both by contributing themselves and assisting to collect from the general public. As far as the union's own members are concerned they pay_ a regular weekly contribution to a Sick and Accident Benefit Society, so as to enable the union to pay sick benefit when any of the members are sick, and funeral benefit on the death of a member. I mention this to show that the union's policy, in reference to patriotic funds, has been applied in connection with its own business for years. "When appealed to recently by the Belgian Relief Fund Executive to levy themselves eo much per head each pay day they decided to refuse, not out of any hostility towards the object, which has their sympathy, but because in their opinion the wrong method was being followed. The appeal for funds to relieve the starving Belgians emanated from England, and in response to the appeal £1.500.000 was subscribed, one -million of which was given by Australia and Now Zealand. The other half million was received from other sources including the United Kingdom, which goes to show that those who wero responsible for making the appeal «M -not support it as they should have done. Apart from the foregoing, through the autocratic action of tho Belgian Fund Executive, which refused to send all money through the Government, and thus lost a considerable amount of money for the fund by way of Government subsidy, the Christchurch City Council refused to pay its quota to tho fund because, it was refused representation upon the self appointed Belgian Fund Executive. When all the features in connection with thc_ collection and operation of tho Belgian Relief Fund," and Patriotic Fund, are taken into consideration, the wonder is not that tho Tramway Union asks for soime other method of raising funds, but that any of the funds have received tho support accorded io them by tho general public. I would respectfully suggest to those patriots who have criticised the Tramway Union to, in future, make themselves familiar -.vltli the subject instead of basing their criticism upon biased misrepresentation.—l am, etc., HIRAM HUNTER, Secretary Christchurch Tramway Employees' Union. Trades Hall, September 22.