Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 1892. The Trades Council.

Manawatu Herald, 16 February 1892, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 1892. The Trades Council.

I «• The Federated Trades Council has issued a manifesto to the Trades Unionists of Wellington to explain why they have deemed it advisable to pass and forward to the Govern I ment a resolution claiming the right ! of the Trades Unions to be consulted in regard to the appointment and selection of Labour Representatives to the Legislative Council. In this interesting document we find much food for thought. If the Government are weak enough to consult this arrogant body, in what manner 1 will the Council in turn ascertain the wishes of their supporters ? If the claim is carried out, as the Council desires the Government to act, the Trades Council must in turn appeal to those who placed them in power, and thus, in fact, the extraordinary position will be gained, that to please one particular class of the community, the nominations of a certain number of members to the Legislative Council will have to be by election by one portion of the inhabitants of the Colony, instead of being nominated by the Governor as by law determined. The Trades Council see nothing peculiar in making such a request, nor anything peculiar in its being granted 1 The Trades Council cannot get away from there being an election for these seats, amongst their own members, unless they concede that the position they hold is superior to any in the Colony, as they itatt that "we cannot gee

anjfc Bubßta.iMai\dfference'. between dictating to our candidates before I election and our representatives afterI waida." Ye do not know for how long the rnlers. of the Traces Council hold office, but it is evident, by the issue of t'lis manifesto, that they at times ac« on their own accord without consultation with thfiir constituents, or this explanation would h&ve been unnecessary. Tho power they hold, thfey appear desirous of retaining, and are satisfied: when it is criticised, by i&saing an explanation in the shape of a manifesto ; but if they believe in the right of duly elected representatives of their own body being endowed with some power and responsibility, why do they deny the same privileges to their Representatives in Parliament and in the Government ? It is this assertion of an authority for which there is no precedent, that makes the inhabitants. of this Colony, who are not members of Trade unions, so doubtful of the ultimate result of all their workings. It is absurd, for this particular amalgamation of voters, to claim a right to demand from the Ministry a reversal of the Constitution, because, they consider that they have instituted "a new order of things." At present we have the law, and can follow it, but Trades Union law, devised in seoret conclave, would be difficult to understand and, perhaps, not over reasonable. It is open, both to the Trade Unions, as it is to the other settlers, to take lawful action to amend any law at present in force, but it must be done in a constitutional manner, by Parliament assembled, and not by a side-wind by pressure on a weak Government. We do not ior a moment suppose that the Government will give heed to the request, but as a straw serves to show the way the wind blows, so do euch requests serve to show the arrogant path these Unionists believe they have power to walk.

A general meeting of the Rifle Club will be held on Thursday evening. The Liberal party have seoureAM organ for the dissemination of their yiew3. It is to be no new paper, wiser Counsels have prevailed, and Wellington will still have only the three papers The promoters of the new paper saw that a fourth journal would be one too many for even the capital, an therefore they have purchased from Captain Baldwin the New Zealand Times. The price is stated to be £4,500, exclusive of book debts; and Sir Walter Buller is credited with having found £'2000 of the purchase money. Captain Baldwin is retiring from newspaper business on account of ill-health. The morning journal of Wellington has had a very chequered career and has not. remained in the possession of one' proprietor for many years together, except at the start as the Independent. The Independent was purchased by a company to run in what may be called the Tory interest and the name was changed to tha^ of the New Zealander. When the company- sold out we nelieve it was Mr Harris who purchased it, and re-christened it the New Zealand Times, which name it has since borne. Captain Baldwin, about two years ngo, purchased the property from "Mr Harris, and has now sold it to the new company. It remains to be seen how lon^ they will manage to retain it ; at the start they are confident. The run on the Sydney Savings Bank has ceased. Altogether £124,000 has been withdrawn. Three more Banks, including the Bank of New Zealand, offered as istance. On Tuesday an immense quantity of rain' fell in the Lumsden district, Southland. • The township was inundated for a time, some damage being done to gardens, stores, and dwellings. The dome of the bridge on the Kingston line was partially washed out. It .will probably be a week before traffic is possible over it. On Sunday, night about 11.20, the district was visited with a severe earthquake, the direction appearing to be from west to east. No damage was clone. Owing to further cases of diphtheria being reported, the Committee have decided to close the school Again for a short time. On Friday evening as one of Mr Or. Coley's carters was taking his draught entire down to the river, in a dray, for a drink, the horse went too far in and fell over the shelf with the dray. The horse was drowned. It is a serious loss to Mr Coley, as he had him sold, and delivery was to have been given this week. The tide was dead low and only just covers the margin between the shallow and" the channel. Persons should be extremely careful of this place at this time of the tide. i On Sunday the Primitive Methodists instituted a novel programme in their services. They met in the morning at th >ir chapel, and then, headed by the Rev Mr Raine playing the violin, supported by MiMurdoch with the violin, and Mr Murdoch with the clarionet, marched to a camp meeting under the trees just off the maiu street and there held their service., A dray, as a platform, had been provided and Mrs Douglas, Messrs Our by, Carran, Westwood and Howan delivered address a In the afternoon a similar arrangement was made, as well as at C.30 whim a very large congre ation was secured. A tea meeting was then held in the church, after which followed a final service. The Choir ; aided the movement by their capital sing- j ing. It is evident that the Methodists intend holding their fort against the Salvation Array, even if tney have at times to make a sortie similar to last Sunday. During the summer a service out of doors, under the shade of trees would be undoubtedly more attractive than those held within the four walls of a building. . i