Waimate Workers’ Union.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 266, 7 October 1902, Page 3

Waimate Workers’ Union.

A meeting of members and others was held in the Foresters’ Hall on Saturday. Mr J. Smith (president) occupied the chair, and about fifteen were present. In his opening remarks the chairman urged the workers to combine to protect their own interests. At present they were only able to gain a mere pittance, and it was almost impossible to live. He was told by a farmer that the workers were well paid, but the speaker denied this. The farmer said very few had not a horse, a cow and some poultry, and were better off even than the Americans. He himself said that in New Zealand men had to carry their swags everywhere and had to sleep in pigsties and fowlhouses or creep into some corner. In America according to his own personal experience, though a man got only a dollar a day he got a splendid house and everything found, and his employer worked by his side, treating him as one of the family. It had been said that the demands of the workers were unreasonable, and he was sorry to say a local paper also asserted this. It was partly the fault of the workers that they got low wages. The employer knew their lack of combination and called tenders for each little job, so that they cut each other’s throats. If they joined the Union they would be able to keep themselves in comfort. A member of the Timaru Farmers’ Union, who said they did not want to reduce wages, had men working at the pitiable sum of 9s per week, and they were striving their level best in Wairaateto bring wages down to this level. The farmers had raised a fighting fund by shilling subscription to put the workers down, but they could not be put down. It was not necessary for those who did not wish to take an active part in the union ; there were others who would do that. The chairman dealt with the rise in commodities which, he said, was due to the combination of traders, which had the effect of screwing the poor worker against the wall. The farmer said ho could not raise his produce; that was bosh, for they

had their co-operative aas"ci itions, and could storo it, a ul so niUj th<markets. They >a>v that every class of worker save the agi icultuml worker were uniting, an I tln-s ■ were the worst paid in New Zealand of any in the wor.d. The agricultural labourer at Home got only 15s to 16s per week, but he had his house free and a plot of ground for a garden and a cow. Mr Douglas, president of the Farmers’Union, had said that the workers’ demands would mean an increase of 3s 4d per acre. This was at 40 bushels to the acre, but there was no necessity for Mr Douglas to try and throw dust in the eyes of the workers. It was quite time enough for the farmers to take up the dispute when some demand was made on them. The workers were compelled now to launch out on a big scheme, that of organising the workers of the colony under one federation, so that they could defy the civilised world He called on Mr Boreham to address them. Mr Boreham, secretary, dealt with the correspondence re the threshing mill dispute. He complained that the Clerk of Awards did not know his business. He said he had omitted to write to the Borough Council re their clerk acting as secretary for the Farmers’ Association. (Mr Costello here said he did not second the motion for this to be done, as had been said, but the secretary appealed to the president, who ruled Mr Costello out of order). The Town Clerk had the option of working for pay, but not of giving his services for nothing, as he was doing. They must deal with the matter. Certainly, Mr Boreham said, his heart and soul were in the work of bringing the working men to a just recognition of their rights. He did not want them to hang together, simply to pay their half-crowns and attend all meetings. Owing to the speaker’s Christian convictions he marvelled that young men should be hanging around public house bars with beer trickling all down their beardless faces, while sueii important meetings as the present were going on, and he and others like him were slaving out their eyeballs to better their condition. He sometimes wondered whether lie ought not to turn prohibition lecturer and go into these bars and address the people there. The speaker then went on to give a resume of his Christchurch address (already reported). He had thanked the council, while declining their offer of financial assistance. He told them about the man who was driving a six-furrow plough for 12s 6d a week. He arranged to call several Waimate farmers as witnesses in the dispute pending. He would examine them and send their evidence to the Clerk of Awards. The Union did not want a great amount of money, but it would be nice if they could build a Trades’ Hall in Waimate, with a room where they could meet and read labour papers. The threshing mill dispute would probably come on at the end of the month. Mr Mills asked if they were going to run a candidate at the coming election. Was Mr Boreham coming out 1 Mr Boreham said he had been asked to do so but had not decided. The council thought it advisable to have a man with a knowledge of the labour laws to act as New Zealand organiser, and if he did not get this job he might stand if great pressure were brought to bear on him. Mr Mills said ho would put up £5 to help Mr Boreham or some labour candidate. They were getting poor legislation because they were not represented in the House. Mr Boreham said people asked who was Steve Boreham and who was Jack Smith 1 but Steve and Jack had shaken up the ’possum in some of them. The President moved and Mr Kilworth seconded a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Boreham, and this was carried. Mr Boreham said he was too much overcome to thank them properly. While, lie was associated with them he would ever do his best and he would never be bought over. He might probably have to resign their secretaryship, especially if he got the job of organising. In the interests of his wife and family he had to do something better, but he would always think kindly of the ranks from which he had sprung. He asked them to be present in numbers to see how their secretary could plead their case in Court, The meeting then closed. After the general meeting the Union met in committee, when Mr Smith (president) was elected to confer with delegates from the Shearers’ Union and the Traction Engine Drivers’ Union, io select a man to recommend to the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council for the position of organizer of agricultural and pastoral workers in the Industrial District of Canterbury. The secretary was instructed to write to the Waimate Borough Council, covering a motion carried by the Union some time ago. Considerable discussion took place on the question of running a candidate for the Waitaki seat. Ultimately it was decided to let the question stand over till after the conference. The secretary was instructed to take ■neb steps ar he may think right to have certain witnesses in the threshing mill dispute examined, in Waimate. Accounts were passed for payment and the usual vote closed the meeting.