ADDRESS BY MR ANDREW COLLINS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3723, 13 November 1906, Page 2

ADDRESS BY MR ANDREW COLLINS.

Mr Andrew Collins, labor organiser, addressed the members of the Flaxmills Employees Union on Saturday night on the benefits to be derived from unity. During the course of his remarks he said he was pleased to be present with the representatives of so large a Union as the fiax workers, which he was informed numbered 565. Fie told them to be true to themselves and it would necessarily follow that they must be true to organised unions. He instanced the difference in the products of New Zealand since the time of organised labour asiagainst the period prior to labour combining together. The number of shops and factories at which tailoressesj were, employed numbered 8 and the employees totalled 33. A union was formed; the Employers fought against it, it will ruin the industry they said; but the industry was ruined to this extent, there are now 35 shops, 10 factories and the employees are over 550. Mr Collins quoted many instances from the Year Book compiled under Government supervision, he also explained how ft lock out was treated and of the punishment given when falsified books were produced before the Court. In conclusion Mr Collins urged the delegates who were to meet the Employers in conference to use every endeavour to bring their dispute to a conciliatory ending. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the visitor for his interesting and instructive address.- -