KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4473, 18 July 1893, Page 2

KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

Pjiblie Meeting. Presentation to the Rev. 5. J. Gibson.

Tha Theatre Koyal was well filled last evening, about 500 people, including many ladies, being present, the occasion being the presentation of an illuminated address to the Rev, 8. J. Gibson ou behalf of the Gisborno Knights of Labor. The Chair was occupied by Mr J. Bnumber, seats on the platform being also occupied by Messrs Hogg, Hutchison, Pinkerton and fiarushaw, M.H.K's,, the Kcvb, J. Dukes and S. J. Gibson and Messrs Eli Smith, 0. Hughes, T. E. Price and D. S. Papworth. Mr J. Bautnber, in opening tho menting, said they had met to Celebrate the third Anniversary of tho Masterton Assembly of the Knights of Labor, and to present an old member fiom another part with a testimonial. The Knights bad nothing to apologise for, because they simply sought to raise the masses. They had never sought to set class against class as bad been alleged, but what they wanted was for one and all to join together for the common good, This had largely been accomplished. One of tbeir mottos was "The most perfect Government is that in which an injury to one is the concern of all," and they endeavored to carry it out. It ' bad been said that they had no right to be a secret society, but tho upper ' and middle classes had set the exI ample, He hoped that in the future strikes would become impossible by alterations to the legislation, so that ! arbitration might settle all labour t disputes. Ho did not intend to say , much, and would simply call on the Past Master Workman, Bro T. E, , Price to present to Bro Gibson a

testimonial on behalf of the Gisborne Assembly, liroT, E.Price said: Ladicsnnd Gentlemen, it falls in my lot this evening to perforin a very pleasant duty. A gentlemen and his family have lately come from Gisborne to settle for a time ill the Wuirarapa. This gentleduring his ministry in Gisborne made many friends, and like all men who are desirous of working for the bentfit of his fellow men and women, joined the order of the Knigbts of Lahour, and seeing that the society was ut Birong power for good, became at once an active nnd leading member of the oiganisation. The call of duty having caused his removal to this district the members of tho order in Gisborne decided to present him with some mark of their respect and friendship, at/d. it is now my province to net as their mouthpiece aud to make the presentation. Sir, and Brother, on behalf of the members of the Kpigbts of Labour of Gisborne, ne have very great pleasure in presenting to you tins testimonial as a mark of their esteem nnd regard, and to testify to the zealous and untiring manner in which yon have worked for the cause of the Knights

of Labor. They are deeply sensible of tho many valuable services you have rendered to their b sembly, and thoy felt they could not allow you lo sever your connection with thorn without presenting you with some token as a momento ol the many pleasant evenings they have spent with you. Mr Price then read the address as follows ; " loyal Assembly, No, 70, of tho Order ufKuights of Laborr. To the Hov. S. J. Gib3on—S : r—We, the undersigned, have real pleuauro in this our act, and on behalf (if the Association of the Knights of Lab.mr in Gisborne, do hereby convey to you our gcatiludo, esteem and the greetings, which become our brotherhood. B.it more especially at this time do we desire that, as you are removing from Gisborne, you should boar away this memento of our respect and love for the splendid resson—so Christ like—that you have, in tho teeth of an ill founded and perfectly foolish opposition, manfully proclaimed the nigh dawn of better things, In tho sphere polllical, and that from the pulpit. Take this, Sir, coupled with our love, and onn will remind you of our tiei as brothers, an the latter, borne upon y,our heart, will help to cheer you as you advnnco to pul I down the heavy fortroases of wrongs, and to proclaim to eager ears the birthright of all, viz :—Means of subsiatenoo, a rational aliaro of tlioenj'iyableblessings of our fathor, God, and tbo true way to attain to their possession. Signed— David S. Jamieson, M.W,;Jas, H. Lymbourne, Organiser; Robert Johnston P.M.W. J Wm. U. Jile, Treasurer; K. J. Spurdle, Secretary ; Jobu Picrco, F. 5.0."

Sir, We hope you and your estim I ble wife may be'lougspared to work n tho good cause you are so nobly and so ably advocating. Allow mo also to give you the sincere congratutions and best wishes of the members of the Advance Assembly of Masterton, and to express the pleasure it affords them to be present upon this fortunate and happy occasion. (App'ause.) Mr Baumber then oalled upon the Rev. J. Dukes who thanked the Knights for their kindness in asking him to speak, It proved that they were not members of the ignoble crew who scorned a man because he wore a black coat and a white tie. Ik must congratulate his brother, the Rev. Mr Gibson, It was not often they had such an array of M.H.R.'s, They were glad to see them, and would bo glad to hear them speak, although the present building was one which would try their powers. It was a disgrace to Masterton that they had not got a better public hall for holding public meetings in. He was not a Knight but still on this occasion was under ihe jurisdiction of the Knights and thanked them forlbe courtesy extendi cd.lthadbeonsttitedtliutitwasaseeret society, but the platform of Ihe order w,is set out in print, and he saw something in it which bo liked very much, viV,:—industrial co-operation, which provided that all received a fair share, apd treated a man according to bis worth. Industrial CO' operation stimulated invention, and did good in enterprise. Industrial eo-operation also weeded out the worthless and was found to prosper wherever tried, The Knights .wished to pull down monopolies and monopolists, and he wished them from his heart the greatest success in their efforts. The Rev. S. J. Gibson

said first of nil it was his duty to thank the Gisborne Assembly of the Knighls of Labour for their kindness to himself. He did not know what he had done to merit it, because it was not the first kindness they had shown him, Just before leaving Gisborne shey had given him a farewell tea, He ', tupposed the present of books which accompanied the address was to help him to M make so many blunders as in the past. He had hlwhjs taken part in any forward movement for the public good, and sometimes found himself in strange company, He was now surrounded by M.H,R.'s. Where woul'J he get to next, he wondered, He did not know why it should be considered so phenomenal*, when a minis., ler of religion took a prominent part

in social questions, that gatherings of the kind assembled should be called together. It was a step in tlio right direction at anyrate, and if bo was in strange company, it was good company. He had joined the Knights of Labour because lie thought it was the best order of its kind in existence. It was a tomperance society and recognised the nghis of all, and the righis of women, and advocated that women should take an equal stand with men. Ho also advocated the order because it was opposed to strikes and brute force, and called in arbitration to settle all questions, Land Reform was another important plank in its platform. In the address which had been presented, a sentence said that he had taken a stand " notwithstanding an illfounded and foolish opposition." -He thought the sentence might just as well have be.eu left out, because foolish people were always found to oppose any now and forward movement. Methodism, however, did not oppose it. He hoped to see the reforms sought by the Knights of Labor before long accomplished facts. Again thanking tho Gisborne Assembly for the presentation and the Mas'terton Assembly for their kind welcome be would retire. (Applause). MnA.W.HoaaM.H.R. the next speaker called upon, said his address would be very brief, as there was a host of talent to come after him. He had lo read aletterfromMrO.il.Mills, regret- ] ting hisabsence owing to the Petitions ' Committee, over which he presided, ' having to meet at 10.80 on Tuesday J morning. Mr McLean was also uu- ' avoidably absent owing to ill-health, ', Nevertheless they had a very good I representation of the Liberal side of [ the House present. Everyone he had ' asked had come willingly, and the reason ho had not asked nwe was that the speeches would have taken too great a time. He was said to he a" moving orator," and he took it as a compliment. He had moved the Conservatives out of the House into Bellamy's. Nothing gave themgrerier pleasure than to see Opposition in front of them, and ho was sorry to see that some were going to vacate their seats. The preamble of the Knights was not always going to be preamble, because they meant to advance, They now had a "very good representation in tho House, and they had not been idle, for he could point out many reforms on the preamble, which had been carried out sioce tho Liberals took the helm in the Colony, 'the great influence of the organization was evidenced strongly in Now Zealand politico The speaker then detailed many of the reforms and stated that other reforms of an equally important character, not alluded to by the Knights, had been carried out, one of the most important beiug the reform of the Legislative Council, and said that before long they would see many other useful and beneficial Bills become law, flehadnowsaid enough on politics.. He would congratulate the Knights on their progress, and on the present gathering, and hoped soon to m the ladies admitted as " Kniglitcses." (Applause). Mb W. Hutchison, M.H.R., the next speaker (received with prolonged applause) s.iid he bad great pleasure in being piecent. He did not know what lie was expected to speak ftboJt now that he had been called upon, but thought the labour question a suitable subject. Like his fciend 'Mr Hogg he d ; d not intend to say very much. Were they in favor of a radical change or rot ? A small minority (he was sorry to sar largely supported by the Church) had the good things of li f e, whi'e a minority ' had not evon justice, and this ; was most deploiable. It waß 1 a good sip of the limp- to M goalie ! men like the Eevs Dukes and Gibson I coming forwaul to lie \at in a i movement which had Lr iia object i the welfare of the people, Unfori tunaie'y at the present time the ■ majority patiently aequicced, and j were content to let things remain as they were, The storm beat with I equal force on tho rich man as on the I poor man, aud the people were getting wiser and began lo seo this and • looked forward for something of the ' enjoyment of life and a change which ' would get them a riddance of the 1 present stale of things, The minority said the Knights were tatting i class against class, hut if anybody was , doing this it was the favoreil few who , wished to deny the people what they asked, which was simply jusii'ce, They wanted the rights for the peoplo that ; they thought they were entitled to, ' and meant to get them if they could, s Tho trouble aro:e through tho unequal • distribution of wealth, and the s.vsiem I of political economy which made i!ch • people more rich and poor people i poorer: Figures were never very ! integrating, but he would just quote ■ a few to show the position j>f matters. The income of the world was one bil> i lion two hundred millions. The laborers received as wag s 850 tnilr lions, while the peoplo who did tno work got 850 millions. . This was a terrible state of things. > Speaking of Great Britain, Mr Griffin, i tho great statician had found out i that the wealth of (Jre..t Britain was - about 12,0,00 millions arnnally, Out I of this four hundred millions went to i wage earners. Ninety seven per cent i of the people were workers, and three i per cent did not work, and whilo the 1 three per cent got 51 per cont of the i money, the ninety seven per cent had \, only 41 per cent amongst thorn. ! This was the fault of political econt omy and the unequal distribution of r wealth, Buying in the cheapest I market and selling in tho dearest was . one of tho causes. Buying anything t because it was cheap; because tomer one had been sweated, or because it . was shoddy, was not tho thing to , encourage, for it moaut that they i were either being cheated or cheat- , ing somobody, (Applause). Another j selfish motto was "Every man for . himself, and—they knew the rest. .(Laughter). But what did it mean? j Cruel competition whiou blighted i and blasted all round. It was mon- > stroue. His politics were that a man i as a man was worth more than all the i gold of Orphir, or all the property in ) the world. And in the past they had been mak'ng their laws in an exactly opposite directioo. Flesh and blood > had been very very cheap, but, pro- > perty very dear. A great change i was, however, coming, in spite of all, ) (Applause), i Mr PiNKEitTOK, M.H.R, i said very little remained for him to > say, after what had been said. They ) sometimes in the House moved ah i adjournment, and he thought that I would be about the best thing to do. ! Tbo Chairman had said there was no i reason for apologising for the Knights' j of Labour, and he agreed with him, I The fact that they admitted all classes I to membership was a proof that the i knights, did not' wish to set class j against, class. The speaker then . alluded to the relation between capi- . tal and labour and endorsed the rei marks of previous speakers, Referring'

to trades unionism, with which he had been connected for ; many years, ho said it did not endeavor to got all men paid alike, but to set up a standard below whieh they oonld not go. He was very glad to boo that members of thn church—especially the Methodist Church-had come down to matters of the world and by their presence that evenin3 showed their sympathy with the people. It was hoped by united action to further gain knowledge, andtogether toeffectwhat itwas impossible to effect as units. With the people at their backs they must go forward—either on or off, If they worked together as ono they would help merit. The trouble was fo™JJ|^/"so much amongst the employers as amongst the employe's themselves, Capitalists were not so much to blame for what they did as those who allowed them to do it. what he wished to bring out was that all must givo up something for the public good, lie had never been an advocate of strikes, but for purpose of illustration he would say suppose 100 men went on strike, QjA- the employer said "verv well if accept my conditions, go out," If a hundred men came in, in the place of tboss men, then the trouble became worse, because the employer could reduce the wages still lower, and the first hundred—ii riUed at tbeir fellows -would go back in their places, He did not advise tlieui to ask for more tbau their righta, but simply for what they had n right to. Women should also be paid the same wage as men for equal work, and he was pleased to say that Dimedin the women were going ahead and joining the Knights of Lubor Assemblies. He would jußt say a word on child labor. Ho child should work until it was fifteen yeais of age, because it was by allowing child labor that parents were brought into competition with tbeir own children. Bach worker should be paid sufficient \r support his children until

they became fifteen years of age,

whether boys or girls, If all present.* weio uot Knigbts of Labor helped* they would be, so that they might join together for the common good. Tbeysiiouldliniittbemselvesonlyatin jury to another, whioh was forbiddon. Mr Eamchuw, M.H.E.,

said i> gavo him very great pleasure to ug'iiii stead before a Masterton audieLse. He thoroughly endorsed ibe rerunrks nf lbs previous speakers, and considered tbat it spoke volumes to find Ministers of tbs Gospel present if-night, taking part in such a gatheriLg. It was hardly fair to put him after such a lot of finished speakers, but ho could at least say that he was proud to be a Knight.of Labor, (Applauso). The Pyramids of Egypt and other great woiks showed the industry of a great industrial army of the past. A gre„t industrial battalion was now at work on the social questious of the day. It was necessary for cvory unit to stand shoulder to shoulder to accompl'sh tho great remit. New Zealand, however, stood pre* envneat n the country where he believed the gteat L»tor Question would bo Lolvri It would, however, be nciessaiy for every man—aud ovecy woman too—to take part in the country's politic.l future. Tho women should be placed on equal terms with the men and siiould cctainly havo the powe; of voting. He wi'i not afraid of the women. How many men knew bow to voto properly ? How many men understood polith ? How

many men in the House of Repreieutativos really knew wnat meant? If the women got fi'.aiobi'.e and turned out.ova4^|H; bor of llio HoUc3 lie suiprised. Thoy knew how to take care of ibomselre.:, (Ljugbter.) Everything could not bo done at once. All they could do was to push, on thecar ofprogu sahttlo, Jfa gc at responsibility icsifd upon tho men eeturncd tone Hoiite, did not a greater responsibility rest on tlio'.e who sent them there ? He advised ibem to watch their repreiitatiyes, and turn tbem out if tbeydid iiotdo tbo right thing. It gave biui exceptional plea ure to be present in Masterton that evening, because it was the constituency that bad returned Mr Hogg, whom be looked upon us one of tbo men in the Hoiks. As for himEclf Lo was in b„d odour in the Houte, but be did not mind that, because he always me.,nt to siand up for what bo b'jou3bt light. 'Mo the drink problem. If they wished the labour movement to progrrs they must ba t obcr men, In the Old Country in moi strike' it was tho grog shop and not t'lo oapita''st that best tho men. 'i'he" out: " had to t..ko the place of the s 'ike:j to savo their wivn aud ...milies from starving Ho was determined that iheie should bo no uncertain iound from please pa<ty or offend-and hoiflHr vory indifferent on meant to fight forward for the solution of the Jrink problem, Ho must say howe .■■ '., be had received ..cant thanks for what he had done from iho Temporal o people. Referring to the question of the unequal distribution of wealth and ii: cfi'ecii, he said that do perfect change lould be accom* p'ished at the si.rt, ilioy mnst go by crsysiiges. The present cooperative works were good, but theGovernmont would have io go a step farther, and every man and woman who was boaien in the open labour market would have io be provided for byfcha Government opening an avenue for them. The step must be takon and then ibe capitalists would oppose this movement for tho of tin indigent laborer. But he the women would have a voice in iho matter, and with their help they must succeed, (Applause). Mr Hogg said he had been called upon to perform, a very pleasant duty. He was glad to see the Church and Senate so well represented, and it was an augury that Heavon and earth were drawn closer together, and that thoy intended to try and form a Heaven here out' of tbo mundane materials at their command. He had very great plei sure in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the members of the' House of Representatives and others present at the meoting. (Applause,) t-x^wr ' Mr D. S. Papworth motion in a few well chosen words. On being put to the meeting tbo motion was declared carried unanimously. Mr Earnsbaw and Mr Gibson replied, after which Llr Pinkerton proposed a vote of thanks to tj& whioh was seconded by MrtHutchison and carried. The meeting then closed.