WHARF LABOURERS

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 466, 26 April 1890, Page 6

WHARF LABOURERS

THE SYDNEY CONFERENCE. Mb Cbeagh, one of the delegates from New Zealand to the Sydney Wharf Labourers’ Conference, called ab our office this morning. He states that the delegates fram the other colonies were greatly surprised when they were told the strength of the New Zealand Federation. There were four delegates present from Victoria, four from Tasmania, two from New Zealand and two from Queensland. In all there were 28 members of the Conference, the total being made up from the New South Wales delegates. The two New Zealand delegates were chosen by the Executive Council of the New Zealand Wharf Labourers’Federation, from nominations sent in by the various local unions, one delegate being chosen-for the North Island and one for the South. “ The delegates were away in Australia 19 days in ail, and 11 of those days were spent in the work of the Conference, which sab every day from half-past nine till half-past five, bub the Committee of Standing Orders, of which Mr Creagh was one, olten had to sib tili half-past eight in the evening.

The work of the Conference was almost entirely in connection with the rules for the guidance of the unions of wharf labourers. A shorthand writer was engaged, and the whole of the proceedings will be published in pamphlet form and the pamphlets distributed to the Various unions throughout the colonies. Mr Creagh says that the eloquence of some of the speakers was surprising. One native-born Queenslander, a Mr Casey, at times quite carried the delegates away by his eloquence, and in the practical work was of the very greatest assistance.

One result of the Conference, in Mr Creagh’s opinion, will be that other trades and workers of all classes throughout the colonies will see the advantages of combination, and of such a federation as the Wharf Labourers have formed. The present Conference, it is hoped, is only the beginning of a great movement on the part of labour for a grand working men’s federation throughout the colonies. The leading men in Sydney heartily co-operate in the union movement, and state that but for unionism the working men of Sydney would be in a pitiable state. A conference of delegates from the New Zealand Wharf Labourers’ Union is about to be held at Dunedin, at which three delegates from each of the unions throughout the colony will attend to discuss matters of importance to the unionists. Mr Creagh states that employers of their class of labour fall in very readily with the labourers’ rules, as they see that what is demanded is perfectly just. • One of the objects of the Union is to get rid of the middleman, who lives on the labourer, and bo let employer and employed meet directly. In this object almost complete success has been achieved. THE DELEGATES ENTERTAINED. The New Zealand delegates to the Conference were last evening entertained by the executive of the Auckland branch, at? the Waitemata Hotel. Host Endean as usual made them feel at home, and the delegates stated, that although they were received in New South Wales in a splendid manner they never since leaving New Zealand enjoyed themselves as they did on this occasion. Mr Duthie, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, was also present, and expressed his pleasure at meeting the delegates. During the evening the usual toasts, “Her Majesty the Queen,” “The Ladies,” “Our Delegates,” “The Auckland Branch,” etc,, were duly honoured.

Messrs Brown and Creagh, the delegates, fully and plainly explained to the members present the formula) of the federation of the 44 wharf labour of Australasia, pointing out that although they were now a strong body, their strength should only be used in a peaceful and beneficial manner. It was nob the intention of the Federation to use their power in a dictative or arbitrary manner. But if a wrong was done to any branch of the Federation it was to be considered a wrong to the whole. They hoped that in the future as in the past that employers and employees would work amicably. The enjoyable evening was brought to a close by drinking the health of 44 Our Host and Hostess ” and 44 Auld Lang Syne,” when the delegates were seen on board the Manapouri by their Auckland friends.