TAILORESSES’ STRIKE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 476, 31 May 1890, Page 4

TAILORESSES’ STRIKE.

PUBLIC MEETING. GREAT SYMPATHY. MR MoBRIDE’S STATEMENT. Auckland, May 24. There was a very crowded attendance at the public meeting held last evening to hear the discussion on the strike of tailoresses at Mr Mcßride’s factory. Tho Academy of Music was crowded to its utmost capacity, many being obliged to stand. Ontheplatformwererepresentatives of most of the other unions in Auckland. The crowd was very good-humoured, and showed great enthusiasm for the tailoresses. When Mr Mcßride appeared he was received with some hooting, and many of his remarks called forth demonstrations of incredulity, but on the whole they wero of the good-natured order. The Chairman, Mr R. Mills, President of the Trades and Labour Council, opened the question by stating that tho Tailoresses’ Union was nob got up for the benefit of the tailors, as had been insinuated. The Union had really been formed on the suggestion of the Dunedin Union. The majority of the shops had adopted tho log in its entirety, and the rates of pay had been altered in those shops to the advantage of the tailoresses.

Mr Preston said the position was really this. The slop log or factory log regulated wholesale work. The shop log regulated private order work. The cause of difference with Mr Mcßride was that McBride wanted to work on the slop log, though he solicited and accepted private orders. Now the Union wished him to work by tho shop log, and to put him on the same footing as other master tailors. It appeared Mr Mcßride did not like to surrender a privilege he had long enjoyed—tho privilege of doing as he liked. A few years ago they in Auckland knew nothing of the low-wage system, but it \vas gradually creeping in and they must s 4 and against it. To the honour of the tailoresses, be it said, they had the womanhood to form a union to oppose tyranny. He could give one instance of such oppression where a girl got 5s a week, and made four and sometimes five pairs of trousers in a week.

Mr F. J. Moss, M.H.R., taid when other men had accepted the Union’s log Mr McBride might do so, and should “ cave in ” with as good grace as possible. Bub what pleased him most tvas the organisation of lubour he saw. The Unions must fight shoulder to shoulder, for if one fell the others would fall. He had helped to got protection for tho people,

but he must tell Mr Mcßride that if he had thought it meant low wages to the work people and large profits to the employers, he would rather have seen his hand wither than have put it to the work.

At this stage the Chairman read a letter from Dunedin, showing that they could rely on sympathy from that town. Mr Mcßride was then called on. He said the apprentice wages wore really reduced in his shop by the apprentice rule of the Union. He could prove this by the indentures with his apprentices, lb must be etidenb that he had accepted the shop log. (Laughter.) But the log bad reduced the wages of his hands. (Oh !) If any firsc-class machinist could do the work laid down by the log he would give very much higher wages than allowed by the log. But in many cases the wholesale log would give better wages than the shop log. Mr Mcßride then read the wages earned by one young woman in his shop for ten weeks, amidst great laughter and inteiruption. Mr Mcßride proceeded to go into great detail, and was warned that he )pust not try the patience of his audience tqp niqpji. Re had a great objection to ba singled opt as the pnly wholesale manufacturer in New Zealand whq was tp be forced to accept the shop Iqg. Re had agreed that his employees fioighb return, but the Union woujd npt let them when they found that 38 out of the forty hands then in his shop wpre bound to him, Mr Farnall then gave a brief history of this movement of the tailoressess in New Zealand. He had interviewed the manufacturers with tw'O other delegates, and without one single exception the logs had been accepted. Mr Mcßride also accepted, but he did not pay up to tho prices, and his people wore called out. Mr Mills then proceeded to deal with Mr Mcßride’s figures, going into detail as Mr Mcßride had done, and contradicting Mr Mcßride on every point. Mr Mcßride then proceeded to contradict Mr Mills, but his remarks were received with manifestations of incredulity.

Mr French moved that Messrs F. J. Moss, M.H.R., and Duncan and Pastor Birch inspect Mr Mcßride’s books and interview the Union Executive, and report to a future meeting. Mr Mcßride seconded, but the motion was very coldly received. Pastor Birch and Mr Moss advised the mover to withdraw it, as it meant want of confidence in the Executive of the Union.

Pastor Birch suggested to Mr Mcßride, who sat by him, that he should give way. 1 ’ The motion was not put. Several representatives of other uqions spoke, all guaranteeing Iheir eupporbto bhp tailoresses. ' ’

Sir lying announced that the Bootmakers? Gnion hqd votpd q, sqm po support tljo tailpresses qn sfrijje. A question arose as to the Tailoresses’ Union accepting a subscription from Garrett Bros., and it was announced by the Chairman that the subscription had been refused because of Garrett’s dispute with the Bootmakers’ Union.

At this stage much confusion was caused by the attempts of Mr H. Mcllhone and another to address the meeting. Eventually it was unanimously decided that they should nob be heard.

Votes of thanks were carried by acclamation to Mr Moss and Pastor Birch, and to the other unions for their support, and the meeting w r as declared closed, no resolution having been passed.