SHEARERS AND LABORERS UNION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2488, 11 April 1893, Page 3

SHEARERS AND LABORERS UNION.

A meeting for the purpose of establishing a branch of this society was helcl ip the Social Hall, Temujpi, op Saturday evening, there being a very fair attendance. Mr R. Hammond, of Geraldine, who occupied the chair, stated that daring the present year a considerable number of men had joined what they called the Temuka Branch, when in ttuth po sqch brpngh existed. Therefore to overcome the difficulty pipntioned the meeting had been called. • He then introduced Mr J. O’Brien, general secretary, who spoke at great length on the advantages of unionism amongst working ipep. Some of the greatest landowners in the Australian colonies, haying recognised that union was strength, had formed themselves into what was generally known as the Pastoralists Union, for tfie purpose of crushing labor if pqssiblp T'hap wfiat were tfig varjops syndicates, oompauies, etc., throughout the world but unions ! Therefore if workers in any way wished to rise above their present condition they must work together systematically. He deprecated strikes, although it had been generally conceded that up to the present nearly every advantage obtained by. the workers had direct jy: c# indirectly" been attributed' to sirilies, He thought, however, there was a grander future in store for labor, and its laurels in the coming time must be won by legislation. He then described the working of the Shearers and Laborers Union from its commencement, Aboiit four, years ago a squatter in thp \Yaimate district suggested the idea of reducing the price of sfiearjag from 15s per hundred 13s fid- _ The’ -13 1 upon,'potijig t|lQ QiW«»p ’ \lUitßdj Ike * * oeing dis- ■ ... orancli of the union was

..ueu. 'the brat year of its existence was very feevero, consequently at its first general meeting, which was called for the purpose of refunding moneys to those who had paid in, it was shown that there was only a membership of 12, and a credit balance of 22s ; however, as a rule the pioneers of progress have ever possessed indomitable courage, and it was decided to give it a trial for another year. Shortly after assistance was given by the officers of the Christchurch Trade and Labor Council, resulting in the increasing of the membership to IUO, and before the end of the year branches were established at Timaru, Geraldine, Ashburton, and Temnka. Mr O’Brien then described matters leading up to the maritime strike, its effect on the society he represents, also the work of the first conference which was held at Waimate, and the position of the union at the end of the second year, it having extended to Southland.At the next conference, at Timaru, it was decided to seek assistance from the

Ans raliau Shearers Union, and it was obtained. It was also decided to devote a proportion of the funds to assisting 1 sbor members at parliamentary elections. At Oamarn the Australian system was adopted. Representatives wore appointed in each shed instead of having canvassers, and the result was a signal success. 'l'he v\ aimate branch worked up from 300 to 413, and 200 were enrolled in four other branches, making in all (300. Great dissatisfaction was felt with the price of threshing, it being then only 8s and 10s per 1000. Several meetings were called, but the millowners took no notice of them until at last the men advertised a list of prices. A public meeting was then called, at which the millowners attended, and the result was a compromise. The millowners agreed that the men were badly paid, but they had then made their contracts, and the year being bad they offered an increase of Is per 1000. This was accepted, though tlnre was a difficulty in getting the men to agree to it. Only for the union committee there would have been a strike, so that the union did good to both parties on that occasion. Ho would suggest to the Temnka men to form a union, and approach their employers in a fair and liberal spirit, and if they did this they would find the employers would meet them half way. As regards the financial part of the union it was flourishing. Oamarn had 400 financial members, and Waimate over 413 members. Mr Kelly, M.H.R., was a very successful canvasser in the south, and had suggested a benefit scheme like the friendly societies have in connection with the unions. Delegates from the south and north, and even from Blenheim, would meet at a conference in Geraldine on the 20th instant, when several matters of importance will be attended to. It was said some people were making a good thing out of the union, but he could tell them that beyond the paid secretaries and canvassers no one received a farthing benefit from it. The secretaries in some instances get from £2 to £5 a year, so that is not a great sum. In conclusion he thought labor had rights as well as duties, and capital had duties as well as rights. The recognition of this fact would lead to the establishment of Boards of Conciliation for the settlement of labor disputes, and by consideriog matters with prudence, moderation, and determination, industrial peace and prosperity would follow. It would be generally conceded that profitable labor was the chief cause contributing to the welfare of every community, but profitable labor did not mean that it was profitable to the employers only. Badly paid labor meant inability on the part of bread winners to proeide for those dependent on them, and labor was badly employed when it failed to reap its due reward. However, there was a general sign that men were applying intelligence to social affairs, and eventually right would prevail. Let workers and employers but meet in a fair and friendly way, and the intelligence necessary for the solving of social problems would come. But, in the words of Henry George, “It must be animated with a sentiment warm with sympathy for human suffering, and it must stretch out beyond self interest, whether of the few or the many. It must seek Justice, for at the bottom of every social problem they would find a social wrong. ’ (Applause.) On a motion proposed by Mr Davie, it was decided to establish a branch at Temuka.

The' chairman said that Unionism is spreading North and South, and he thought it would look bad if a Temuka branch was not represented at the Geraldine Conference, He hoped they would unite, as their object was not so much to raise wages as to prevent them going down. They must elect their best men to the offices, and then unionism would benefit employer and employed. He hoped the Temuka branch would he a great success.

Mr Stephen Doreham wished to press Upon them that they must not take notice of what newspapers say, especially Conservative newspapers, and when talking tq an employer they should never who they are talking to, and mind what they say. Their position was this : they had labour to sell, and they ought to get a fair price fqr it. Unionism was not established to impose upon employers, it was merely to look after labey matters, and as a means of elevating the masses. Instancing what unionism had done, he said the London dockowners were putting by annually £900,000, nearly a million of money, while their labourers were paid at this rate of 4jd per hour- The strike resulted in getting their wages raised to XOd per hour, and 11 for overtime. That was a good result. The result of the Australian strike was that several labor raembqva were now in the Parliaments in the several colonies. M r Dvupk asked a question in Parliament with regard to the shearers’ accommodation at the stations, and the result was that 15 new huts had been built in the Mackenzie Country. Men were getting faip accommodation, whereas the accommodation before was not fit for dogs. Unionism was the nearest approach to Christianity, as taught by our •Saviour, and he was astonished at the apathy shown towards It. He hoped the Temuka branch would be a great success. (Great applause.) Tlie following officers were then elected: Chairman, Mr K. Franks ; Secretary, Mr W. Davie; Treasurer, Mr Mclnness; Committee, Messrs Langridge, Morris, A. Franks, G, Brown, and H. Drew; Delegate to the Conference, Mr \V , UryyvThe meeting then tarnypyat§d’_