LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2646, 14 April 1894, Page 4

LABOUR, ETC.

New York, April 12. Rioting in Pennsylvania among the coke men has been resumed. The United States Mine Workers’ Convention has ordered a general strike of miners on the 21st instant. A.S.L. UNION. We are requested to publish the followinol was deemed necessary at the last commitiW meeting of the Temuka branch of the A.SX. to ask the editor of the Temuka LeadeO to hiJert a report of the delegates tour of the mills, for the benefit of members or othtFS that fljo interested, Mr J. K. Franks and Mr iCh Sweet being appointed as delegates, they proceeded to the different mills, starting on the 12th March a-.d finishing on the 10th. It was found that no less than four mills in the district were paying the Union rate of wages, whilst two others had met the men half way, which the Union considered very lair, owing to it being such a bad season. Several other mills promised if the yield was bad to raise the price. In to the reception the representatives of the Union got, as has been already stated, it was as varied as far as millowners are concerned. It was found that the majority of the meu at the mills

were not local men, but strangers to the place, and ; the difficulty the delegates had to face was the surplus labor from surrounding districts, This being the case, it was considered by the Union unwise tocall the men out, (.although they expressed their willingness to do so), owing to the bad season and surplus-labor, and to be content with having scored a victory', by six mills havingßaised the price of threshing. ; Our number of members increased between thirty and forty, a-lot of men taking tickets from the delegates at the mills. It is pretty well understood the inconvenience the mill-owners'have been put to 1 by not giving the price, through inferior labor. When it is considered that the Union has only been inaugurated about 12 months, and-the fee of membership is only ss, and our numerical strength is about 100, in attacking the threshing question for so young a branch it is plucky, especially scoring decided victories in many ways. The season has been against us, but no doubt it will terminate for good; those who are outside of our ranks will no doubt see the benefit of unity and organisation, and on receipt of their threshing cheque will no doubt throw in their lot. with the Union, so that in future they may be able to get fair remuneration for fair work. The Union scofnis defeat, and with the victories already achieved the hearty co-operation of all honest-principled working men, will go forward to maintain their rights and privileges. On the delegates presenting their report to the committee a; vote of thanks was recorded. The working men of the district will realise the benefit of being a member of the Union —that the only chance they have to maintain their right is by combination and unity.