W. T. YOUNG.]

123

I.—9a.

19. I think you wrote up to Auckland the other day stating that, the Tramway Union approved of the Bill? —I do not think so. The Furniture Trade Union supported it conditionally. It appeared to me, after discussing the matter with them, that at the interview with you they did not understand the true purport of the Bill. 20. Mr. Westbrooke understood the Bill, did he not?—l believe he has given it some consideration. He was here and gave evidence as a member of the parliamentary committee of the Trades and Labour Council. 21. He was president of the Furniture Trade union?— Yes. 22. And he was here and discussed the Bill?— Yes. 23. I suppose you know Mr. Betts? —Yes, he used to be secretaiy of the Reefton Miners' Union. 24. He is now? —I have information from the organization that he is out of it—that he has taken up land. 25. He approved of the Bill for one? —You will find individual members of unions who approve of it; but what you have to take into consideration is the large number of organized unions who do not. 26. If a majority of the organized unions approve of the Bill, should they not receive consideration: one union represents twelve hundred men?-—I suppose each union knows its own -business. 27. Well, what is good for the majority cannot but be good for the minority? —It seems to me that an attempt is being made here to legislate for the minority. 28. You are getting your opinions from certain members of the Trades and Labour Council. There is one union which has communicated with me which represents eighteen hundred hands— a registered union of workers, and their opinion ought to be taken as well? —But are you going to legislate for isolated cases. 29. What about the gold-miners?— The Waihi miners passed a resolution against it, and I should say they number about fifteen hundred. 30. The coal-miners are a large number of men, are they not?— Yes. 31. And there are other large bodies which approve of the Bill. You heard the representative of the Typographical Union this morning?— Yes. 32. Mr. Poole.] In view of the hostility that exists at the present time in tramway affairs in Auckland, do you think it would be possible to carry on the work of the Tramway Union if clause 53 became part of the Act ?—Yes, we would carry on the work of the union very effectively, and perhaps more effectively than it is carried on now, because we would relieve ourselves of the Act. 33. I mean by loyally standing to the Act?—l am satisfied it would not. Of course, they .might be able to struggle on, but to carry on would be a different thing altogether. 34. You think that a man actively engaged in the tramway service in Auckland could not do the work satisfactorily?— They have already tried it, and it proved an absolute failure. Their secretaries have been absolutely useless to them.

Tuesday, Ist October, 1907. Michael Murray examined. (No. 14.) 1. The Chair man.] What are you? —A waiter. 2. Are you connected with any union?— Yes, the Cooks and Waiters' Union. 3. Do you hold any office in it?— Not at the present time. 4. Do you come here as a delegate from that union?— No. 5. You come as an individual member?— Perfectly individual. 6. Have you held any office in the union?—l have. 7. What has it been ?—President, 8. You are ex-president of the union?— Yes. 9. How long have you been out of that office?—l think about five months. iO. You are acquainted with the management of trades-unions? —Yes. 11. Have you seen this Bill known as the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill?— Yes, I have seen it, but not studied it. 12. Are you a member of the parliamentary committee of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council?— No. 13. You are not working as a waiter now?— No. 14. Will you tell us what you have to say in your own way?—l may say that I was one of the -organizers of the Cooks and Waiters' Union, and took a prominent part in forming and carrying out the work of that union from its inception, and when the union's case was brought before the Conciliation Board I conducted it with the present secretary and another representative. Since then I have found it absolutely impossible to'get employment as a waiter about Wellington. My name has been upon the labour books for the last twelve months. It has been transferred forward and forward as the books have been made up not only as a waiter, but also as a barman, porter, or any other position in Wellington; but I find it is impossible for me to obtain employment in any hotel in town. 15. You have been out of a billet as a waiter for the last twelve months?— Almost twelve months. 16. Where were you working at your last place?—At the Hotel Cecil. 17. Why did you leave?—l left there for a holiday. I had not .had one for two years. 18. Did you leave with the knowledge of the proprietor?— Yes. 19. With his consent?— Yes.