CLERK' NIGHT OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 286, 1 December 1911, Page 7

CLERK' NIGHT OUT.

i A EIGH_OLI> TIME. jtfflff aGAHCST THE UNION. „„ o'clock list, evencorily ««<* *' k -lace ux 1 ' et meeting of derKS had I consider the question 1 I"2S union. Several speakers I * keP X i preumi^ rv gnmenng m 1 * ho Clerks' Union. The open•oUr„e°a£ Sdres. referred to the 1 •' sp Tder which the workers sufI TLd located unionism as the 1 red ' „ labour had or securing its 1 employers. Mr. Bell, i r* J,.d«ll«ned the street meeting. 11° m bK I,, favour of the union, but keep them long, « l ui nted to attend anotner gathering 1 w Jfttaal H*U in connection with & ? OT'3 candidature. Mr Eraser I fl Soke strongly in support of unioni£fsr««wa iau ? h when . re I to the clerks as the aristocrats or 1 *f* T i, e anti-unionist clerks were reI r°j' to frequently by speakers as I advocated that the Clerks' Union I "* \a ret behind them the navvies and I *££* ■*' anted - He saW thp y £ecUX a workers alike, whether with r ofefc an d sboTel or w ' th bhe pei1 ' ud the only way to get justice was to * it from the masters. Who tie time arrived for the anii- ™ Juts' meeting in the Chamber of 'Sen*, the hulk: «j[the audience left, ntowi<9 °' There £° tie Beabß „frt,.outers. Another speaker mountjtto rostrum and called for three cheers f T He Clerks' Union, which were hearts' 1 pfHj, He then said, "The anti-union Jerks can cheer for themselves," which voted » lit* l6 h° otin g> *he ones reto having already gone to the Jjjmber of Comm-jrce. THE INSIDE MEETING. u 8 am. the lecture hall of the Chamv, of Commerce was literally packed nth Wies and gentlemen. Mr. F. J. lyjleara presided. It was evident from I rt e first that some were present to disI jjfhtbe pro«edings, and the chairman. | he rose to open the business, was j received with cheers and hooting. He | jj/ared to the fact that a Clerks' Union I jad been formed without the bulk of {juse interested being consulted. Cries from the back of "Rot,'' •'Scabs," Bud inswering cheers from supporters. T]u Chairman said he intended to conisct the meeting on Parliamentary lines. (Applause.) ' A Voice: Like last night's. (Cheers and boots.) lie Chairman said those present who vere in favour of the union of clerks .would receive a fair hearing, as they wisted the matter properly considered, their sole object being to look after (the beat interests of the clerks. (Applause.) Voice from, the back: Why don't you join the union? Chorus in reply: We don't want to," with cries of "Put him out," and answerfag requests "Come and do it." lie Chairman said at present they hew vho they were working for, but if the; joined a union they would be under dual control. (Cries of "Rot," and cleerhg.) The majority of . the clerks nmsiiered they were quite able to look '■\iftff theiT own interests. (Voice: j.Vßct.*') They were working amicably 'tfrS their .fiflyofcyers, and did not want gj a (Sid "party to interfere. (Cheers, and etesflf "Sow much do you get for this*" "What did your boss give you?") He lemed emphatically that the present meeting was got up by the employers—ft was called br the clerks—(A voice: "Scabs.") —to faiily discuss the matter. ANTI-UNION MOTION. Mr, Graham Reed mounted the platform amidst a perfect storm of cheering, mingled with hooting from the back. He said it had been stated that the Union was formed for the. good of the clerks. If that was so, why was it done secretly? Why were not the clerks called together like they were that night. Cproar at the hack, and cries of "Put Ik out.") The chairman said they did not wish to put anyone out, but the matter must I* diacussed properly. 'Mr. Reed asked -why was it that out of 1000 clerks m Auckland only some 60 had joined the union? Let those have » Traian who wanted it, but those who ' preferred not to join did not want to be Jound by an award made at the request el smb. a minority. They did not want to be bound by the rules and regulations Dfamrion. (A voice: "Scab.") If any of them wanted a holiday now, they iat only to ask for it, and they got one. KQeers and hoots.) i Yoke: The employers havn their tmon. Inother voice: Tou be . Jr. Reed: I ask my fellow clerks if Iby want to be ruled by a union? yoice: If | you. will all join, then you *il be the majority, and rule the union. Utn the union. thorns (all together): We don't want *mion. itr Reed then moved: "This meeting M clerks, representing the following tenches of commerce, insurance, hardwre, printingj law, life insurance, gas, baking, timber, wholesale merchants, sotioneer3 and land agents, carriers art Custom-house agents, produce merennts. shipping, wholesale druggists, ail brokers, stronjrly resent the action ofthe United Clerks of Auckland Registeed Industrial Union of "Workers in Oftandinrr that our employers should be wind by an award for working eonditms, ror the following reasons:—First, tat we are not members of the said won, and should not he drawn into the tf'Pe of its operations; 2nd, we have jver approached the union in any wav »t could warrant their taking such "ion on our behalf; 3rd, we do not esire a union, being fully satisfied that ur conditions of labour cannot be imroved thereby: 4th, further benefits M increased emoluments are best chained by reasonable and amirablc arangement with employers, and not bv bourse to law. We therefore request ue union will publicly announce that so w as our employers are concerned the notices for an award are withdrawn." Chorus: "Bo we want a union?" Cries m»Au l ?.° ! and Yes! Yesl th cheering sad hooting. Mr. E. S. H. Biss. in seconding the motion, endorsed all that Mr. Reed had satd; from his experience in a merchants' "nice it would not suit the profession. ■nejaomted out that, the wages fixed for juniors was 15/ per week under 16 rears, and m five v -ars thev were to get £3 »/ irrespective of anility. That was toe minimum, but in self-defence the niastrrs would also it the maximum. At tin* «tage of the proceedings a plaintive voice shouted from the bottom fh the „ stairß - " Is there any room up there?' and was promptly answered with, l£u down in the collar there keep \

Mr. Biss also pointed out that one junior to three seniors ■would not work out for the benefit of the juniors. What would happen in a big office would be that if the men had to be paid more, they would do away with some of the juniors. This award if made would not improve the conditions of the clerks.

ilr. Brown asked if he could address the meeting from the platform. This created some uproar amidst which there were cries of "Who are you?" "Let's hear the other side!" and "Give him a chance," meanwhile the platform was occupied by another speaker. Mr. L. Scott, on behalf of the hardware clerks, supported the motion. A voice: Hardware clerks get £5 per week. Mr. Scott: 1 will come to you for a billet. Voice: And T would give you one. Mr. Scott said it was ridiculous to ask intelligent men and women to be bound by some of the clauses in the proposed award. One thing was certain—the lads would be in for a very bad time if it became an award. He also considered that equal pay for lady clerks would result in driving many out of employ inent. They did not wish that. Three ringing cheers were given imanimously for the lady clerks, and "For They are Jolly Good Fellows," was sung by the chorus at the rear. In conclusion, Mr. Scott remarked hardware clfka were all against unionism. INSURANCE AGAINST UNIONISM. Mr. G. Neville, on behalf of insurance clerks, said they were very much obliged to the union _for exempting them, but the trouble was that the other employers could cause insurance companies to be cited. The insurance clerks were entirely in accord with the motion. Mx. C. L. Eastgate spoke similarly on behalf of the clerks in the produce trade. He said the profits in the produce trade would not allow of more being paid the clerks. A LiADY CLERK. Miss Basten ascended the platform amidst a storm of cheering, and a little hooting from the back of the hall, which was quickly suppressed when she said quietly that she looked to the chivalry of the men for a courteous hearing. She objected to the union, and claimed that lady clerks were satisfied with present conditions. They took exception to the demand for equal pay for women and men clerks, because the majority of the girls did not do the same work as the men. Of course, a girl who did equal work with a man should get equal pay. (Applause.) Most women were not physically able to do equal work with men in an office, but it seemed to her that the Clerks' Union aimed at doing the work now done by the women clerks when they asked for equal pay. (Applause.) The speaker concluded an interesting address with an amusing parody on the "Charge of the Light Brigade," in which occurred the lines: "Unions to right of them; unions to left of them; unions all round them: volleyed and thundered." The lady received a quiet hearing throughout, and was loudly cheered.

Mr. G. C. Codlin, on behalf of the printing clerks, said the feeling was very general against joining the union. They were quite satisfied with their conditions.

Mr. Wool lams, on behalf of clerks in the Auckland Gas Company, also endorsed the proposal. NOT ON THE AGENDA.

Mr. Brown, on ascending the platform, was received with loud hooting and cheering. The chairman asked a fsir neaxliugrfor the speaker.

Mr. Brown then proceeded to ask who convened the meeting, but was requested to speak to the motion. He said the question had been asked, what freettoiii the clerks would have under a union. His reply to that was they would have as j much freedom under a union as they had out of it, for they elected their own officers and executive. (Voice: "Are you a Socialist?") Then someone started singing, " Britons never will be slaves." The chairman having restored order. Mr. Brown said of course the union would not do everything at one jump. (Voice: "It will jump out of the window to-night.") Mr. Wing, on behalf of the snipping clerks, next expressed approval of the motion. Mr. R. A. Barry did likewise on behalf of the clerks of carriers and Customs House agents. He said it seemed to hhn that the Union had been formed by strangers to Auckland. It was composed of outsiders, and not New Zealand, ers. (Applause and Cheers.) At this stage Mr. Hughes sprang up, aivi began to address the chairman. Then the chorus began: "Do wp want to listen to Hughes? No! No! No!" After which there was cheering and hooting. Mr. Hughes contended that it was not in order when discussing the motion to refer to the personnel of th« union. Mr. Barry said what he complained of was that when the strangers formed the union they did not first consult the clerks of Auckland. Another speaker ascended the platform amidst cries of "Is he a clerk?" "Who are you?" He said: "Ladies, and those who haVe been called 'gentlemen' this evening." (Great uproar.) Cries of "Give him a chance." and chorus of "Immigrant! Immigrant!" The uproar continued until at last the chorus counted in unison up to ten, and then shouted "Out!" The motion was put amidst cries of " Scab," and was carried by an overwhelming majority, only nine or ten hands being held up against it. Then followed more prolonged cheering and hooting. Mr. Neville moved and Mr. Fairburn seconded: "That the conveners of this meeting be appointed a committee to draw up a petition in terms of the preceding resolution, and that they be given full powers to take such action as they think fit to safeguard our interests, and to remain in office until our objects have been attained." This was carried as one excited man with an English provincial accent shouted for three cheers for the slums of Auckland, and was promptly reqtiesteil to return to those from which he had come. Mr. Hughes attempted to address the meeting, but a gentleman moved a vote of thanks to the chair, which was carried, and the proceedings terminated by oinging the National Anthem.