The Intercolonial Trades Congress

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 170, 18 September 1886, Page 4

The Intercolonial Trades Congress

At the Intercolonial Trades Union Concrete held at Adelaide, Mr H. Barnett, representative of the Boot* makers' Union of South Australia moved ; — "That in the opinion of this conpress the time has arrived when immediate steps should be taken to bring about the total abolition of Chinese and Coolie immigration, beoauto : — First '. The competition of Asiatic against European labour ia entirely unfair. Second : It is well-known that the pretence of Chinese in large numbers in any community has had a very bad moral tendency. Numerosu delegates spoke on the subject. Mr C. Haanagin, of Auckland branch of the Seaman's Union jof New Zealand stated that he was -in possession of facts that enabled him ro state that a new shipping company wns about to sturt, muking Vancouver Island, Auckland and Sydney, their ports of call* who would employ coolie labour on their boats ; and he had been sent from Auckland to see if the congress could not do something to put a s<op to this coolie labour, thus protecting the shipowners. He thought that this, aspeot of the case .might well be discussed in conjunction with coolie labour. He was of opinion jthat a poll tax of £$q should be placed on all Chinese ontering any of the Australian colonies, and he proposed, that an <. amendment to that effect be added, to the motion. ;, " i <,'.",. The motion was carried, with only one discentient, the amendment being withdrawn. f - >j.j> • , , , „-;.' 1 ' European Seamen on^Mall'Bqat*. /'' - Mr,R. Hann»h,of s the grades !^ P d Labour Council of South Australia, moved c—^That a, deputation fromjjjhe TraHesfpqngrßse #• South Ausjbral j& bejsques^e/} $o wjajj; uppnj&e,, mail service contract to the effect that all ships carrying mails to or from South, Australia, where subsidised; by GoTcrnmont,

ibould be manned only '-oosy s Jluropsaii seamen } also that the trades' council! and trades' societies of ,tht other ooloaies should be requested to MiUt in parrying this into foroe geaerally throughout the cploniw." Mr mnnegan, of the Auckland, Branch Soamon'i Union of New Zealand, seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Lampard, of the Boilermakers Society of South Australia, moved,— That in tno opinion of the congress it is necesiary, for the better protection of life and property tha* the Parliaments of Australia enact a measure providing for tha periodical inspection of all boilers uwd for the purpose of generating steam." < < This motion was carried. It was also resolved—" That practioal boilermakers should be appointed as inspectors.

Tbe JBanquet to Consul Griffin. At the banquet given in Sydney to Consul Griffin, the Hon. W. B. Dal lay in proposing the health of the guest said : " I have seen many reasons for admiring Consul Griffin. (Hear, hear.) We, for several 1 years past, have had published' in the newspapers of New South Wales accounts of the resources of this country, and the manner in which they have been developed, and I have read with admiration many of these publications —some written by very eminent men ; blit I take this opportunity of saying that never did I read accounts' of the resources of thia country and its capabilities so well put together, so complete, and so exhaustive as those whioh Consul Griffin has sent to the Government he represents. (Hear, hear.) Not only has he well performed tbe duty he has been sent here to discharge, but he has conferred a very weighty obligation upon the people of thia oolony from the way in which he baa spoken of them. I do not know whether we have eeen the full text of these reports, possibly we have only eeen some eelections from them, but I hope tho day is not far distant when we shall have published here a complete copy of them, and no more valuable utterances upon this oolony could be Bet before the public. We are indebted to him for what he has done in that respect, and I am quite sure the reputation which he has gained here, from the able manner in which he has discharged his duties as consul, will extend and become greater in his own country than trail it is amongst us. (Hear, hear ) Independent of theso valuable reports, Consul Griffin, I am given to understand in fact, 1 know — has established a high literary reputation. Be is a man known not only in commercial circles, but is one of those cultured men who are an honour to their country and to those who speak their language. I am therefore glad that! have been able to come here to certify to his countrymen that he has gained among us the good opinion entertained of him by them The other ground upon which I am here is of a public character." Mr Griffin when responding said : "I embrace this opportunity also to express publicly my thanks and gratitude for the assistance I hare received from Mr Vice-Consul George F. Stuart, who, although a very young man, has been connected with the Consulate in this city and in New Zealand for a period of seven years ; to his unwearied industry, painstaking accuracy, and conscientious performance of duty I am much indebted for whatever success has attended my consular work in the colonies." Alleged 111-treatment of Seamen on tbe Mariposa. j At a meeting of the Federated Seamen J d Union Held in Sydney on September the 6th (cays the " Telegraph ") the following resolution was carried: — "That thia meeting views with alarm the inhumanity shown by the captain and officers of the steam»hip Maripoaa in lashing up men by the thumbs 'because they were unable to stand the work in the stokehoU in consequence of being undermanned ; and further, that we pledge ourselves to j call upon tho Government of this colony to ' u*e its influence to prevent boats which carry the mails from being manned by Chixeee." The matter was broupht up by a letter being received from the Federated Seamen's Union and the Trades and Labour Organisations of San 'Francitco. It appeared that the Mariposa on her last voyago but one was under-manned, there being only nine coal-trimmers and nine firemen on board, and they were unable to do the work. Instead of there being three watches, as is usually the case, the engineers had to call upon the men to do extra duty. Tbe men becume thoroughly exhausted, could not do their work,' and consequently ' refused to work, being unable to do any. The captain of the vessel gave orders that j the men would be lashed by their thumbs to the ship. On the Maripoaa's arrival in San Fransisco the men were brought before the ccurt for refusing duty and punished. The president of the Seamen's Union, Mr O'rfullivan, M.P., was asked to bring the matter under the notice of Parliament at his earliest convenience. The "Sydney Globe" states :— " After hearing the ppoech of the hon. member for Queanbeyan last night with regard to the tricing of seamen for eight, hours on board the Californian mail steamer Mariposa, the Postmaster-General waited upon him, and requested to be furniehed with full information about the matter. It is the intention of Mr Suttor to bring the barbarity under the notice of the owner* of the Mariposa, in order that it'may be investigated and the officers may be called to account for their action if the* report be found true. Mr O'Sullivan also 'intends to write to the American consul on the subject, and demands that an inquiry shall be made into the alleged cruel treatment of the sailors referred to." Duty on Undrc«sed Timber. Melbourne, Sept 8. — A deputation from the Victorian saw-millers vaitedon the Chief Secretary to-day urging that a protective duty shou'd be imposed nn all undressed timber now allowed into the colony free of duty, and that an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent, should be substituted for the duty now charges! on Tasmanian hardwood. The deputation pointed out th»t the importation of Oregon and Baltic timbar was injuring thefawmill trade very gerioufly, and that if .something was not donequickly the industry would be crushed. Mr Dciakiu sympathised with the^ views of the deputation and promised to brine them before hie colleagues, but gave little 'hope of dealing with the matter this session.

I By a majority of four the South Australian Legislative Assembly have decided to Bay daily prayers. They will possibly pray' to ,be made hone'sfc. ' To thk Pubmcl— rrthtTundiifgienecl, do this day make the following statement, in hopes that others who'havo Konc'thrdtiKh'aainulftr'aftn'ction; may profit thereby.:— tforniany months i have I been sick ; so, bad that ljfe was a, burdpn.> 'The mental depression' and physical prostration were something tlntt cannot be described. Doctors and patent medicines, I have triod without ' any relief, bittf getting'wo'rse'all the time'." £b a ! forlorn* hope'l callo~d,ion''Dr. Speer, 1 Palmerston-'l3(UMdingB,,Q\i6e^;s]^ep^,.n-Hi9i©xaniined me, and,< ' without^ askhiK ],a .question, gave „mo every, i symtttom'rhadrSaitt'Ke Should treat mo. ' Frdm' i th<?ilrBt teaspobnfuUof -his mediciho I felt reliefs > and| haves been ddnslantlyagelitingcbetterje'Tjßr^ I since. . Words gratitude The above W solicitation, and I am willing to verify the oamo before a J.P.— Respectfully your*, R. ifiAUNV Vhfcrlotte-Btreet, Eden Terrace, ,