TRADES HALLS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1633, 13 September 1887, Page 1

TRADES HALLS.

Wellington, Sept. 7. A deputation of Wellington' tradesmen waited on Mr Ballance and asked the Government to give them a site for a Trades Hall, in which tradesmen and employees could meet to discuss questions of mutual interest. The deputation was introduced by Mr Eobertson, candidate fer East Wellington. Mr Balance assured them the object had his greatest sympathy as regards all parts of the colony, but pointed out the great difficulty was as to obtaining the land. Legislation would also be required, but he thought it could be effected by an amendment of the Act passed in 1879, giving the Government power to grant sites for Working Men’s Clubs. He remarked that newspaper writers in New Zealand, who did not know as much about strikes as in the Old Country, were in the habit of assuming, wherever strikes existed, that the men were wrong and the masters right, and he quoted statistics to prove that the Unions spent 99 per cent, of their income in benevolence and philanthropy. Passingly he touched the Protection question, holding that artisans would never be in a good position until the people recognised the necessity of protecting their own industries. He warned Freetraders that they would suffer by competition with Chinamen and Home Manufacture!s. He suggested the depupation should follow the same course as proposed by the Christchurch Industrial Society, and use the building for ex' ibition of products. The Minister was very favorable to the project, and while he pointed ®ut the uncertainty which now exists, promised to leave no stone unturned to get si'es in all centres for the purpose of a Trades Hall.