GERALDINE SHEARER’S AND LABORERS’ UNION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2333, 22 March 1892, Page 3

GERALDINE SHEARER’S AND LABORERS’ UNION.

A meeting of the Amalgamated Shearers’ and Laborers’ Union, Geraldine, was held on Saturday evening, when Mr R. Hammond occupied the chair and the attendance was good. The chairman explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of discussing a circular received from the Australian Shearers’ Union. The chairman read a number of extracts from papers bearing on the subject to be discussed. The Australian Shearers’ Union had promised to send one or two men to travel New Zealand, organising the unions, and it rested entirely with whether they would throw themselves into the A.S.U. and have the benefits of their funds and experience, Mr McDonald had been organising in New Zealand for the past year and it had not cost the New Zealand shearers anything. Mr Dean thought they had better join in with the A.S.U.; then they would have a proper head, and be better organised. He believed that the reason so many branches of the unions died out was for want of a proper head. Mr Kalaugher was of the same opinion. He was certain that a great many more Shearers and Laborers would join the union in Geraldine if they knew that it was amalgamated with the Australian Union. It was then resolved —“ That this branch of the Shearers’ and Laborers’ Union think it desirable to form one District Union, and that two delegates be appointed to attend the prospective conference.” The meeting then terminated.