THE LABOR QUESTION.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7419, 10 December 1889, Page 5

THE LABOR QUESTION.

MEETING. OF AGRICULTtTRAL LABORERS AT KAIAPOI.

Last evening a meeting, attended by 250 persons, washeld In the Kaikapui Concert Hall, Kaiapoi, to discuss? the labor question. Mr O. Hansen," Mayor, by invitation, occupied the chair. The Mαyob read the notice calling the meeting, and said he had been asked by some of the laboring men of the Island to preside.- Of course he did not know the exketr nature of the grievances, but having been told that the men had Only 3s 6d and 3s; and had been offered 2s 6d a day, he thought it was time the men moved in the matter. (Applause.) He had made enquiry, and found that some of the men were employed at low wages. He did not identify himself with the question beyond this, he had consented 1 to take the chair, and believed the best of order would be kept. Mr John Eiojott moved—" That it is the opinion of the laboring class of Kaiapoi Island that the time has fully arrived when a friendly settlement be agreed to between the employers and the laboring class, as the present- low rate of wages to not sufficient for men to support their families, as not beingable to obtain regular work during a great portion of the year." He stated he thought the time was >ipe when a settlement of the wages question should be made, for at present single men could not prosper on the wages that were offered. Alluding to what he had said at the last raeetinghe went on to show that fanners could afford to pay 9d per hourfor their labor, and had no doubt but that the workmen would do them, justice at that Eice. (Applause.) No doubt farmers had rge a«nual outlay for taxes and rent of land, the Latter as high as 10 per cent,, but he maintained that was their matter, and the question of wages was the laborers' question. J£ farmers secret' too high rents that ought to oe no reason why they should bring down the wages. He went into a calculation to show that farmers were crippling themselves by high rents or interest, and he contended the wages men were expected to make np the deficiency. <" Shame,") He stated he had been thirty-one years In the district, and he found that the disposition was to crush down the working men. and stamp a man who asked for & high wage as a loafer. In 1863 and 186*. when he was Chairman of the unemployed meetings aC KaiapoL he had warned the men what would follow their supinenees then In the matter of their wages. It was dear that at least £lo was being lost by each "working man by the low rate. On the Island there were good farmers who were willing to pay fair wages who were being urged by others to join hr the reduction of wages, and not aliovr the working men toliecome their equals. (Laughter.) In 11883 he pointed Ottfi ft demand to labor

or higher rate* elsewhere took away the workmen from this district, hence they were hardly able to get the harvest In. Masters, he concluded by saying, ought to adopt the advice of the Splatleto the Sphesians. (Applause.) Mr J. Wilson seconded the motion, observing that as the farmers were acquiring larger holdings those in power were taking advantage of the position of the laboring classes. Mr W. Robb asked it the Union would apnly to the Island f Tue Chairman replied in the negative. Some interruption was here caused by a tinsy man. The motion was then pat and declared carried.

Mr F. S. Pakkkr moved—"That In order to carry oat the resolution at a previous meeting it is necessary to form a Committee of laboring men, to be chosen from persons favorable to oor proposals, the said Committee to consist of nine persons, with power to add to their number, with the object of forming a Union." He asked for attention although he was a stranger. The formation of a Committee mignt be before the time, a Union would have to be formed first. He then proceeded to address the meeting on the advantages of a Union. The object was to get their rights, not by threats, bat by persuasion, and to bring about a new and more healthy state of things in the condition of the working clauses. Lately, as President of the Tailors' Union ! in Chriatchurch, where they had an up-hill fight, it had been fought to a successful j issue. (Applause.) Hβ pointed out the advantage of federated Unions, as he had told the butchers at their meeting, that it they joined the Union, and a strike took place at the Belfast Factory, there would not be a carcase of meat sent away from there, for the lumpers in Lyttelton would asslsc them ;—(applause)—and the sailors would also asslsc. (Applause.) Then the colliers could refuse to put an ounce of coal on the ships. So that they would see that the Federal Trades Union* had the matter in their hands. In the matter of assistance, he said in the recant strike on the first day they had to Rive out pay which required a sum of £200. At 10 a.m. he only had £20, by 11.30 he held £02, and the whole sum required by 2.80 p.m. (Applause.) Thus those present would see how far the co-operation of other Unions could be depended upon. If the laborers here joined in a Union, drew up rules, and became federated it would have such assistance that the farmers could not get a pickle of their wheat away if .there was a strike on. Had the working men only three meals a day and a bed to live for? had they not their dear children and their old age to provide for I While the working men were assisting to accumulate wealth

for their employers, they could not submit to the latter wringing the last drop of blood out of them. (Applause.) While some were making their thousands of pounds, others weresimplystarvlngon their wages. The remedy was in their hands that very night, to form a Union and erect an institution which should prove a blessing to themselves and their children. (Applause.) Hovr many had cursed the land of their birth, and it was fast coming to a similar condition In thie colony. Hβ heard that some of them worked twelve hours for oa, and the masters wanted them to work

longer hours. To this he could say that as he considered himself worth Is 3d per hour he thought they were due the name. (Applause.) Another advantage of the union of working people would be the fact that they would lμ able to return men to Parliament who must represent their interests; Hitherto wealth and commerce had been fully represented, while honest labor was neglected. He urged those present to do their duty to themselves and their country by amalgamating to defend their interests, and by forming rules and obtaining assistance they would be able to bid defiance to any unreasonable proposals from the employers. (Applause.) Mr J. Wiison seconded the motion, also observing he hoped it .would be cordially agreed to. Mr Schmidt expressed himself favorable to the motion, inasmuch as men were expected to work for 3s 3d a day of twelve hours. There could be no doubt that they wanted none of the serfdom of Russia or the hard lines of Siberia in New Zealand*; ' -' '■ Mr Parker added to his motion—" That a Union be now formed, to be called 'The Laborers' Union of KaiapoL'" This amendment was agreed to, and the motion, on being put, was carried unanimously amid cheering. Mr Joseph Stanton, as an old colonist of thirty-four years' residence in the district, said be was lost to discover the man who would offer men 3s a day; He had never paid less than 5b or 63 a day, and always given men a chance, if they did not flnieu in one day to complete the work on another. The man who offered 3s a day was not half a man. He stated that on many occasions he had helped men on the tramp for. work with a meal and a "doss "—(A Voice—" Well done ")—and for shame's sake he could never think of

asking a man to take 3s a day. This farmer ■ who had made the offer of 3s ought to be named in order that he might be known. In olden times he used to pay sometimes thirty and forty men 8s and 10s a day. When he came to Canterbury he only had 19s in his pocket, but again he must say he was lost to know the man who would offer Ss a day. {Laughter and applause). Mr Fox, from tbe body of the hall, observed that the Laborers' Union would allow this gentleman to be sent home if he required it at any time, a remark whlchprovoked roars of laughter. Mr Pabkbb pointed out that some of the men at that meeting might be dismissed by their employers for joining in: the agitation. (A Voice —" I have been sacked already. ,, ) Now all of them must hold together for the sake of that one. In the case of the late factory strike they would see this was done. If any men ■ were discharged who belonged to a Union word had only to be scut to headquarters to enable a stop to be put to any injustice. - Mr J. Carter thought the appointment of a Committee and officers would be the most practical step to take. Mr W. Robb advised the men to adhere for-the eight hours system* There had been an attack made by the Telegraph which wreut on to say that eight hours was nothing for working men. He advised the writer of that article, if be waft within hearing, to come out in the fields and try the eight houra to begin with. His impression was that the hours of labor should be shortened, and if an hour came off every day it would enable more to.get; employment. After some further discussion, the meeting proceeded to che election of Secretary, when Mr W. Bobb was unanimously elected, and a Committee of thirteen was appointed,and sixty-eight persons enrolled themselves as members. Votes of thanks .were passed to Mr Parker, the reporters, and the Chairman, and the general meeting terminated with three cheers for the Union. ■.■:•'' A meeting a? the Committee was subsequently held, when Mr J, Elliott was* elected President, and other officers were elected and steps taken to organise the Union* ' '■ r The meetini? was orderly throughout, and concluded at 9.15 p.m. The Committee hold a first meeting in the forking Men'e Club on Wednesday next."' . ■;"• ~■ .