PROPOSED PUBLIC MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 215, 11 September 1890, Page 5

PROPOSED PUBLIC MEETING.

THE MAYOR'S REPLY.

The following correspondence has passed between the Mayor and the officers of three of the principal labour organisations :— " September lOtb, 1890. " To the Mayor of Auckland. " Sir, —At a meeting of the representatives of the various labour organisations tho following resolution was passed upon the motion of Mr Graham, seconded by Mr Sinclair : ' That we, the representatives of the various labour organisations of Auckland, request the Mayor to convene a public meeting to demand arbitration in all points in dispute between the .Shipowners' Association and the Maritime Council; and we also requesb that you will convene said meeting at the earliest possible date.' "Weare, sir, yours obediently, " Edward Randall, Secretary Wharf Labourers' Union. " Geo. W. Newton, Secretary Seamen's Union. " Malcolm F. Ramsay, President F.WCE. Union, Auckland. "Mr Upton, Mayor of Auckland." ■

" Mayors Office. " September 11th, 1890. •' Messrs Randall, Newton, and Ramsay. " Gentlemen,—l am asked by the representatives of three Unions to call a public meeting •to demand arbitration on all points in dispute between the Shipowners' Association and the Maritime Council.' " 1. I should be glad to convene a meeting of citizei>9 at any time to deliberate upon the important principle of arbitration in trade disputes, should the request to do so be made in such a way as to secure that the meeting should.be fairly representative of the whole body of citizens. I do not think that it would be within my duty to call such a meeting at the request only 'of those who are actively interested on one side of a present dispute. j : "2. Further, Ido not think that it would be a right thing in any case to convene a public meeting to ' demand ' arbitration in such disputes. That would nob give the opportunity of considering whether such a thing were advisable or not. You, and I agree with you, believe arbitration to be the wisest method of settling most, perhaps all, trade disputes; but it must noc be assumed that that is universally admitted.

"3. Before it would be possible to call a meeting to demand arbitration 'in allpoints of dispute! between the parties named, it would be necessary to be more fully informed than I am as to what those points may be. On one point alone have I been able to obtain such information as enables me to form even a very modest opinion. On all others I am, probably in common with my fellow citizens, absolutely ignorant; and unable therefore to judge whether or nob ib would be in the public interest to convene a meeting for the purpose named. " I am, yours faithfully, " J. H. Upton."