TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6028, 10 January 1885, Page 3

TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS.

f_FBSSS ASSOCIATION TELXGBAM.]

DUNEDIN, January 9. Tbe following is the constitution of tbe •Congress as fully passed:—l. This Congress .shall be called " The New Zealand Trades .and Labor Congress." Constitution—2. The New Zealand Trades and Labor Congress shall consist of delegates representing .fona fide Societies, Trades and Labor -Councils, and Bimilar bodies by whatever . name they may for tbe time being be called. The objects of the Congress Bhall be— (1) To promote the better organisation of the working classes. (2) To carefully cou- . aider all matters affecting their interests, .and promote all such measures as will better their condition. (3) To take all steps possible for pasting into law such measuies as Bhall be conducive to their interests. (4) To use every legitimate means of obtaining a proper representation of labor in tbe Legislature of the colony. Bepresentation — Every Trades and Labour Council and every Trade Society or similar lodge shall be entitled to send one delegate to mictinga of Congress; over 100 and under 200 members, two delegates! over 1.00 members, three delegates. But no Bociety shalLbe entitled to send more than three members. Trades and Labour Councils shall be understood to reckon their numerical strength by the number of contributing memlers. (5) All Societies represented at the Congress by delegates shall contribute for every Trades and Labour Council and for every other Society Is per year per member, to be paid quarterly in advance. (.6) The_ time and place for holding each session of Congress shall be determined at the previous session. (7) The affairs of the Congress shall be managed by the officebearers and Executive Committee. The office-bearers of the Congress shall be a President, two Vice-Prebidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Trustees, who shall be elected at each Session of Congress. The Executive Committee shall consist of seven members, who shall likewise be Eessionally elected. The office-bearers and Executive Committee shall hold office until their successors are appointed. (8) The duties of the Executive Bhall be to deal with all business connected with the Congress when it is not sitting, and to furnish a report of their work and of the Congress' proceedings to the next Congress. At the Trades and Labor Congress to* day the fellowing motion by Mr Uowland, of Christchurch, was carried by a large majority after an interesting debate — "lhat with the view of fostering and encouraging local industries in New Zealand a duty of not less than 20 per cent, be placed on all foreign manufactured goods that can be made successfully within the colony, and that all raw materials for such manufactures be admitted free of duty." At the Evening Sitting of the Trades and Labour Council Mr Bomber, of Timaru. moved —" That all existing' Political Associations in New Zealand should amalgamate, with a Head Centre in Dunedin." This was lost by a considerable majority. At a later hour Mr Farnall, of Auckland, moved the adoption of suggestions made by the Auckland Liberal Association in favour of forming "a strong coalition of the various Democratic Societies throughout the colony, as would insure united, vigorous and connected action in the interests of their oauee, and enable them to make their weight effectually felt at the next Parliamentary elections." There were also a number of ether suggestions, including one to petition Parliament for a land tax; -to consider tbe propriety of retaining the services of a sound liberal journal, and to -establish a New Zealand National Beform Association to break down those iniquitous monopolies which create an unjust distribution of wealth. The adoption of these . suggestions was carried in globo. A petition for aland tax was then adopted. Mr ~Hogg read a paper on female labor, for which he received a vote of thanks. The •Congress resumes to-morrow, and in the evening a grand procession and monster public meeting is to be held. -On Monday -the Congress have invited the Premier and Mr Macandraw and others to address them.