CO-OPERATIVE SHIPBUILDING SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2608, 27 August 1878, Page 3

CO-OPERATIVE SHIPBUILDING SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Shipwrights Society was held last night at the Working Men's Club, Mr. Graydon presiding. After the election of officer-, Mr. Ellis proposed the motion he had jriven notice of for the formation of a Cooperative Shipbuilding Society. He said:- In rising to move the motion standing in my name, I believe I am uttering the opinion of every member of this society, in stating that a motion nf this kind has beoome almost imperative, especially so of late. That there is a vast amount of lost *lme is a mott lamentable fact, the cause of which will, I hope, b_ a matter for future consideration. My present object is to draw your attention to our position as mechanics, and the slow but certain depths of miserable eristonco we are sinking to, and to prevent which, I *-k memb*r__' serious consideration. It 1a nee_.-__B for me to relate facts «s to want of employment, for mort of us have had ample experience. But air I would ask, is thera no means by -which we could Bucc-eafnUy prevent, or at least improve our prasant position? I_ there noting we can do to abSbrd our waste time. Sir, I maintain that we can; and by indomitable perseverance, energy, and unanimity, can Bucce_fl_uliy oarry out proposals. Well, the question ariaas what can we .do? I say co-operate. But the yaye and means; just bo; there stands thai *_ant whOße glance alone sinkß as into msignifloance andpaferty. We are terrified actually afraid tomato an attemptat aeingle effort to better our position. And why » Is it beoauae we will low Bomething by so doing. Will we loee more. Will we lose as much as we do under present circumstances. Sir, I ask members to calculate the time they have lost during the year, and they will find that one-fourth of it haa been wa.ted in idleness and mitsery. N ow^takmg that individually, it means between £30 and £40 a year, and yet we go. on in tkis manner y.'ar after year with the utmost indifference. If, then, we can exist with a yearly loss of tins amount, can we not direct it into one channel in a combined form, and run the riak of an absolute loss? If this is done we at .least provide a machine; we then reqnire material*— that Ma. money and credit. As to money,,! believe there is plenty in the Bank, and market also; but our securities must be very good to realise at a reasonable rate of interest. Ine Question will be, how much do we require; for we must have a certain aaiount to start with. As to e'-edit, I do not think it is difficult, to obtain, for I believe'the whole of New Zealand is implicated more or leas in that branch of busineas. We now come to a very important matter, that is, the management of the whole affair; and I would impress on members minds; even as proprietors, that they must Bink all petty grievances and jealousy, and must submit to work fair and honestly, according •to the manager's orders; for on this hidden rock many a good undertaking has .ultimately failed and crumbled to pieces. This, sir,' is simply an outline of what is required, and could be opened to the public; or we could adopt a more contracted or select courso.by keeping the proprietary within the Society, by making a weekly contribution to create a fund; and unless it were heavy, it would take a considerable time to accumulate. But under any circumstances, I think we would be taking. a Btep in tbe right direction. Strong complaints are uttered by employers that the excessive rate ot waaea has caused a stagnation in our trade. But I fail to see it. There are other builders in the Southern Pacific who would fl.od us with their productions if such were the case; butthero are very few trades placed in the same position as ours. Bricklayers and stonemasons only ; all other trades, I believe, has protection from the weather more or less, andean work when we are forced to be idle (as a member in Parliament stated last week) three and four days in a week, so that your wages are reduced to a.very low average indeed^-ZTrue, if you do not work you cannot expect to be paid, but idleness is not what wo require, and woe to a country or nation that takes no steps to check it, for it will surely bring it to desolation and want. Putting, aside the weather, what prospects do we see in any of oar shipbuilding yards? We see vessels in various stages of construction. You may see the boy just loosed from his mother's apronstrings, the impetuous youth with the first dawn of -down on his upper. Up, but you!-may look in vain for the practical and experienced mechanic, v And I may here state that this is the casein many other trades, although not carried on to such an excess. This, it is stated, is owing to the high rate of wages; boys had to be employed to compete against other firms. I question the soundness of such proceedings, for competition will follow the heels of boy labour equally as , keen as those of the practical mechanic, and inferior productions is the reeult. It is a bad state of affairs to see a lot of lads hurried of£ to work to earn a cruet, while the parent, who is better able to earn a loaf for hla family, is left In idleness and want. Thiß, sir, is the state of our building trade—not a very creditable one, and to better which I _have asked members this evening to give their earnestconsideration." Some discussion ensued, the . project receiving general support, and it was agreed to take stepß to bring it to a successful

isiue. Circulars have,-been,.issued, sketchini Jpfah.—lt Id intend- i, if -possible, to get'as near|he dock..t';^;:-' ;..;."?" ;■:, ... '.-,' : l-_ Cfi