TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 5

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

THE BAKERS' GRIEVANCE.

THE EIGHT HOURS' BANNER

At the meeting of the Council last evening there was a full attendance of members, the delegates from two newly-formed societies taking their seats. These were from the newly-formed Bakers' Society and the Tailors' Union, Strictly speaking,the latter is not a new society, but it lately got into rather a weak state, and tiad to be re-organised. Amongst the correspondence was a letter from Mr T. Thompson, M.H.R., explaining the cause of his non-attendance at bhe railway servants' meeting the other evening, as he would have much liked to have been present. His sympathies were entirely with the objects aimed at by the Society, and he was much opposed to the Railway Commissioners' insurance scheme. A letter was also received from the secretary of an Auckland Union, complaining that on the Jubilee demonstration day his Union had been refused permission to carry the Eight Hours' Banner, although before asking for it they had obtained permission to carry it from all the trades in Auckland. He wished to know to whom the banner belonged, and why could it not have been allowed to take a prominent part in the public procession on the Jubilee Day? A discussion ensued upon this. It was pointed out that the banner was subscribed and paid for by the public, principally the associated trades, and to them it rightly belonged. Those actually responsible for its safe keeping were undoubtedly the Eight Hours' Demonstration Committee for the time boing. As it was some years since that Committee existed, and as the special functions of thai Committee ceased when the day's demonstation was over, it was considered that the proper body to havo control of it should be the Tr •*.:!_. and Labour Council, and a resolution was adopted to endeavour to carry bcia into eiiect.

A long and interesting discussion took place on the bakers' grievances, and much light was let in to the working of this industry. It appeared from the general tone of the discussion that the master baker 3 who employed labour were quito friendly and in accord with the objects of the Operative Bakers Union, but that the manner in which seme bakers conducted their business, who employed no labour except that of their own families, who worked most unconscionable hours, compelled the master bakers to pursue a course repugnant to themselves and unjust to their employees. A course of action was proposed and adopted, and the opinion was confidently expressed that such action would lead to good results.