The Waikatu Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2949, 9 June 1891, Page 2

The Waikatu Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1891.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The Intercolonial Trades Congress which met at Ballarat some time back, has finished its session. The resolutions arrived at are of importance, in that they must be presumed to express the opinion of a largo body of the working classes on matters which immediately effect themselves. There are of necessity some of the resolutions with which we can agree, and there are others of such a nature that they are not calculated to give a very high idea of the intelligence and power to grasp the labour question, by the delegates from the different associations. The resolutions are noc very lengthy wo will therefere print them in order that they may be clearly understood. They are as follows : — 1. Tho rigid enforcement in all apprenticeships ot the duty of tho employer to thoroughly teach the apprentice his or her calling under a heavy penalty for neglect. •?.. The enforcement, of the apprenticeship syst'-m en iin; above lines in all skilled trades i lie question of what trades shall be considered skilled to be settled by each Provincial Council in its province. 3. The tKte'iMou ot' the principle of State technical education on an absolutely free basis. 4. The acceptance by Trades Unions of certificates of proficiency obtained inState technical colleger as equivalent to

indentures of apprenticeship. The holder of such certificate to receive full wages. 5. The. raising of the school ago in the various provinces of the federation to such a standard as the dilFerent councils may deem necessary in order that t] 10 nbovo rccoinaieudations ro technical education may ho availed of to tho fullest extent. 6. Tho strict enforcement of a modical examination of tho youth of either .sex in onler to determine their litness for callings to which tlioy iiro to be apprenticed. 7. Tho fc.rnuit.iou of Juvenile Labour Unions, with tho view of establishing a minimum wage and regulating conditions under which such labour shall bo performed. That this Congress earnestly roeommonds to tho various colonies that organised action bo taken towards tho mnintonanco of the following principles : —(a) Electoral reform by tho removal of all disabilities placed on citizens either as olectors or candidates; (b) ropeal or amendment of all Acts imposing restrictions upon labour. It is most important that tlio interests of the maritimo labour leaders should bo conserved by tho abolition of the employment of foreign-going sailor labour at the working of vessels' cargoes arriving in the ports of the colonies from foreign parts; that eacli Trade and Labour Council in the colonies be requested to use their best endeavours to secure to each society interested tho passing of a measure which will give effect to this opinion. This Congress looks upon freedom of contract as a masked conspiracy to crush unionism, and challonges tho employers of Australasia to a public and open conference on the subjoct to prevent any misunderstanding. Froodom of contract is thus defined: —(1) That tho employers have the right to discharge a man without Joeing asked tho reason; (2) that they shall have the right of bringing a man into their shops without being questioned as to his being a union or non-union man ; (3) that they shall have the right to employ whom they please; (4) that tlioy shall pay what they chooso without being questioned by anybody on the matter. With regard to the first proposition in reference to penalties on masters who do not fulfil their duty to their apprentices wo of course agree. The third proposition opens up a much larger and more difficult question. The dolegates who proposed that tho Stato should undertake technical education freo of cost to the pupils, to tho extent of turning them out sufficiently skilled to take their places with tho journeymen of the different trades, cannot have given any consideration to tho cost. There is not a colony in Australasia, excepting possibly Queensland, that is not making great sacrifices, greater than they can well bear, to secure that their population shall receive elementary instruction sufficiently good to enable uny who liavo passed through tho schools to continue their education. If it is attempted to tack free technical education on to tho primary school system, there is not a single colony in which the cost would not cause tho break down of the whole system. Tho Congress soems to overlook tho fact that, if their dream wero in any degree practicable, the different trades would become flooded by journeymen, to a degree out of all proportion to tlu» work to bo performed. Ono of tho most stringent rules of Tiades Unions has hitherto been that no master should employ more than a cortaiu proportion of apprentices to the number of journeymen. As to the removal of electoral disabili.. ties, none exist in this colony at the present time. What Acts they wish repealed which imposed restrictions upon labour we are at a loss to understand ; unless it be tho different Acts which securo to every citizen the right to do what he likes with his own labour. Tho resolution in reference to the employment of the crews of ships for the discharge of their own cargoes, is a matter with which no legislature could interfere. As was to be expected Freedom of Contract is a thorn in the side of Unionists, unionism and freedom of any kind either for the employer or the employees are as far asunder as tho poles and as antagonistic as the two elements fire and water. The elofinition of Freedom of Contract is tho corroct one and certainly should be insisted upon in spite of all the Trades Unions in Australasia. It is absurd to suppose that any legislation would enact that only men who are banded under a Union flag shall earn a living. It has become now more manifest than over that the labour difficulty can never bo solved by Unionists. Their views are too various and their training has made them too selfish.