STOREMEN'S UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 166, 16 July 1890, Page 2

STOREMEN'S UNION.

A meeting of sfcoremen (outside those occupiedin gum stores) was held last night in Robson's Rooms, when about 100 were present. Mr Burchell wae voted to the chair. He briefly explained the business for which the meeting had been called.* Mr Campbell moved end Mr Hadey seconded, "That the meeting form a Storemen's Union."

Mr Simpson said that) the main question was whether they would join the Wharf Labourers' and Carfcere' Union. A committee bad canvassed the storemen and found that the majority were nob in favour of jriining the other Unions. 'I hie was adopted. Mr Thomas then moved that they should join the Wharf Carfcere', Expressmen's and SfcoretaenV Union. They would then have a strength afc their back. Mr Campbell said that they were all aware that their employers had held a secret meeting yesterday, and he felb that they should consider the interests of their employers as well as themselves. Mr Simpson said that they could not ask for overtime from their employers in some instances, as some soft goods employers gave their men ten days' clear holiday in the year. Now the other union rules were very strict upon the question of overtime. Mr Binee said that they would see by letters in the paper that it had almost amounted to a fight between the Maritime Council and the Knights of Labour. Ridicule had been cast upon Mr Millar, who first mooted the formation of the Council. He could, however, tell them that Mr Millar was'a good organiser. He had an office and was paid £4 per week, and had an assistant clerk. The Maritime Council consisted of the Miners, Seamen's Unions and Wharf Labourers. They would also Boon have the Carters and Expressmen and the Railway Servants. Hβ would advise them to form a union, and assuredly they would have stronger support .if they united with the other Union. He could tell them that no attempt would be made to force them into the Maritime Council. If they formed an independent union, then they could affiliate with one or the other Council. In Dunedin the Storemen and Carters worked well together, but they had not yet united in Wellington, If they did form a Storemen'e Union, he doubted whether they could join the Maritime Council, provision having been made for storemdn in the other Unions. Mr Daniels said he would like to test the feeling all round whether they were patistied with their bosses. In his own case he came here a stranger and his master took him in. Hβ was sick and his master visited him, and also brought a cheque in his pocket. Thab was how he had been treated by his employer ; still be sympathised with others who were not so well treated. Mr Gow asked whether it was a fact that unless they joined the Maritime Council their employers' goods would be boy- ' Mr Ktrkup said all they asked was that j the storemen should form a union, and then if they saw fib to join the Council they should do co provided they had o substantial majority, but nob otherwise. If they ioined they mu&b affirm the principle of ei<*hb hours being .a day's labour. As for attempting to boycott any man's ffoods because the storemen would not join the Council, thab was absurd, as ib was againefr the principle, of perfeeb freedom. Bub if a aubefcantial majority joined the Maritime Council, then that body would take the jurisdiction over all the warehousee,ae»ff>«fc»>erpf justice. He advised, them first to form a union, The Chairman said they ha* practically carried the resolution to form a union, Mr Simpson again spoke in support of forming a Union for storemen alone. The eight hours' system would nob suib bho Bt Mr Thomas said that if the masters had to pay overtime after eight hours they would aoon drop to it. At first no doubb there would be some difficulty. ■ Mr McKee seconded Mr Thomas' motion that theyehould affiliate with the Carters' Union.

Mr Coleman said thab his employer would give him a day when he wanted ib, and he could not stipulate for overtime under such circumstances. (Hear, hear.) Mr Simpson said thab storemen in soft goods warehouses worked seven and a-half hours each day and three hours on Saturday, and had ten days for holidays. He had canvassed the wholesale soft goods stores, and found that they were unanimous against joining the Carters' Union, as they could nob demand pay for overtime. Mr W. Doran moved that a committee be appointed to go through tho rules of the Carters' Union and report at future meeting, Mr White seconded the motion. Mr McKee said that the best rule in the Carters' Union was the eight hours per day. Mr Doran's motion was taken as an amendment to Mr Thomas' motion. A ballot was then taken, when 30 voted against joining' the Carters' Union, and 38 in favour of it. Mr Campbell moved and Mr Gow seconded,, " That we take timo to consider when we join tho Carters' Union, until the 25th of this mouth." Mr Thomas moved as an amendment thab a committee be appointed to meet the Carters' Union next Tuesday to discuss matters. Mr Carbwrighb seconded the amendment, which was adopted. Messrs Burchell, Gow, Trueman, McKee, Holland and Simpson were appointed as a committee to attend to the above.