TRADES and LABOUR COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 168, 29 July 1901, Page 2

TRADES and LABOUR COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held in the Tailoresses' Hall on Thursday evening last, the President in the chair.

The Otago Trade and Labour Council wrote asking for information re the working of the Auckland tramways. It was resolved that the secretary obtain the particulars asked for and reply. A letter was received from the Hon. W. Bolt, Chairman of the Labour Bills Committee of the Legislative Council, stating that on and after the 16th inst. opportunity would be given to tender evidence upon the Shops and Offices Bill. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge receipt of telegram and state that this Council had no evidence to offer.

The Wellington Trade and Labour Council wrote asking this Council to co-operate in urging upon the Government the necessity of giving workers representation on the Harbour Boards of New Zealand. It was resolved that the Auckland Council co-operate in this matter.

The secretary was instructed to write to the city members, also to Mr Lawry and Mr Jackson Palmer, askingthem to urge the Government to push on the cases for decision of the Arbitrntion Court. Tt was also resolved to write to the Premier asking that section 10 of the proposed amendment in the Conciliation and Arbitration Act be inserted in its entirety.

A committee was appointed to go through the various Bills before the House of Representatives and report to each meeting of the Council. THE MILLLING TRUST. The following circular was received:—"A Disclaimer. — Mr Thomas Meek, managingl director of the Southern Milling Trust, has informed the Southerners that the trust is not a monopoly, but a co-operative association the same as the various farmers' co-operative associations. But the great difference is this, the flour trust regulates the output and fixes the price of flour, and naturally wheat, and those who do not bend the knee Ito the trust are wiped out if not strong enough to resist. Whereas with the fanners' co-operative associations no one is prohibited from using their brains and increasing their farming or business on whatever lines they | please, and all goods are sold and | bought at market rates; the only i benefit derived by farmers from their ! associations is the middleman's proj fit. —(Signed) Farmer."

An animated discussion ensued. It was stated that the trust had endeavoured to obtain control of the local mills, but failed. The trust had declared that their intentions were, if successful, to close the local mills and supply the Auckland market with Southern flour. The trust was now cutting prices so as to cripple the local firms and compel them to join with the trust or retire from business. Either course would be detrimental to the interests of the Auckland province, for not only do the local mills employ a large number of hands, who would be thrown out of employment, but they also consume from 4000 to 5000 tons of coal per annum, and grind all the wheat that is grown in the province, which would otherwise prove practically unsaleable. In the event of the trust securing supreme control of the New Zealand flour market the prices of flour would be raised without any corresponding rise in the wheat, so that the farmer would suffer equally with the consumer the baneful effects of this trust. Two courses, it was stated, are open to combat this evil, viz., first that the ports be opened, grain and flour being admitted freer, in which case the farmer would suffer without receiving any reciprocal benefit, and the millers themselves would be mined, as New Zealand grown wheat could not compete against Australian or Californian wheats or flour; secondly, that the Government be asked to introduce such legislation as would make sradh trusts or combines illegal. It was unanimously decided to communicate with the various Councils, asking them to urge upon the Government the necessity of legislating in this direction.