ENFRANCHISEMENT OF LABOUR.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 469, 7 May 1890, Page 4

ENFRANCHISEMENT OF LABOUR.

For many years past the champions of labour have pointed to the condition of the workers in our forests who, for so many years, have been developing one of our most important industries, and declared that so long as such a state of things existed in this country, we had no right to boast of our eight hours system, or of our free institutions. It may be asked, How was it that where so many hundreds were employed, the workers themselves should not long ere this have organised themselves, and by united action secured the redress of their grievances ! The difficulty of adopting such a course was great. Isolated as are these workers, and with the scene of their employment far distant from the energetic centres of population, the difficulty of holding meetings to discuss matters of primary importance to -themselves, which, from the nature of the case, it was necessary in the first going off should be kept secret from managers and employers, is obvious. Organisasion of labour, even where the surroundings a>e in every way favourable, is no child's play ; it requires even then tact, energy and determination of a character not always attainable. .The difficulties surrounding the organisation of labour in country districts, where every man is immediately under the eye of his employer or his agent, is ten times greater.

To organise a new labour union, especially after long years of ill-usage has caused such ill-usage to become the customary treatment, of a certain section of labour would require the services of a man or men peculiarly gifted with the knack of dealing with his brother men. Supposing such a one appeared upon the scene, and commenced operations. How soon would it be before his objects \jjere made known to those in authority ? And can anyone doubt the result? He would promptly get his walking ticket, and those scenes would know him no more. It was for this reason that the Auckland Knights of Labour took the cause of these workers in hand, and despatched two officers to make a tour of the mills and bushes giving addresses on the aims and objects of the Order, and enrolling and initiating all those who desired to become members. This appears to have offered the very opportunity for which these workers had been longing,and they joined the Order almost to a man. These things were, of course, not done in a corner. All the preliminary proceedings connected with the addresses on the objects aimed at by the Knights were open to the public, but the wholesome effect this visit has had upon the powers that rule in these mills and forests and the knowledge that 'now the workers are under complete organisation, has caused already some of the shackles to fall from the limbs of those workers who, by no stretch of the imagination, could truthfully term themselves free men.

Mr H. \V. Farnall, the recording secretary of the Knights, received a telegram from the North on Saturday afternoon, to this effect: “The mills here are going to work nine hours instead of ten, wages not to be reduced. Our good work is beginning to tell.” Of course, nine hours is not eight hours, but it is an advance towards it, and no doubt that, and the abo’ition of the truck system which is also demanded, will, if patience is exercised, and ability and common sense maintained, in the councils of the Knights be sooner or later conceded, and any other necessary reforms that can be justly claimed will also eventually be made. “ Auckland Star,” May 3.