WORKERS' POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12825, 8 June 1907, Page 12

WORKERS' POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Tho Chrißtchnroh branch of tlio New Zealand Workers' -- ---tical Association mot on Tuesday, tho president (tno Hon. John liarr) occupying tho ohair. Air Rugg, secretary oi tho Uani«n-r> *■ Union, forwarded a ktttor rccoivod by -✓him conveying a distinct P-™ 11 .B*J""*8 *J""* tho Alin.sUsr-in-Clin.go of the International Inhibition that tho wages ot gards-n-rrs 1 labourers would bo uiercas- . «*l to Hs ixrr day aa from August Last. ' As Air Alunro asserted that thoro waa no record of any -**'s-h promt*, it was decided to publish a portion ot tlie cornwpundioiico. .Mr Jlii__s letter was rofiwo to tho committee already sot up to interview tlio Minister at tho first, opportunity. . CMwciiic «.«** of undor-payment ctt pinployei>s by tho City Council having In-en lirou_ht under notice, t-ho s crotary was instnn■t«l to write to tne Council -iriiwing ationtioa to them. Two pilars by Alivsni C. J!. l<'ord and 11. S. ii.-d-ri'on "Advertising Canterbury.*" recently iv-ud boioio a minting of'tho Industrial Association, wero discuMnul, and lho Hon. John liarr <>.- i<-rcd to prepare and read a papor in reply u>6 tho next meeting of the "Workc.!-,-' Association. Air liarr s ollor wart aoropted. . . An allied ease ol wrongful dismissal of nil employeo at the Addington Railway \Vorl..sho|w wiw referred to tho Executive lor further enquiry. Air AI. •!• Foroo urged tho noce-wi.y of nil Absoluto .Majority Bill, anu qiioti«i the voting at ihe recent Taniimki elcs-tion as an instance. The prcfccnt f uubioti-, iittiiuilo on tho part of somo ni: iiilwr.; f/l tho Liberal Labour Party in connection with important (jovernjiK'.nt ineaJsiircs, and tlio threate-noo disruption of the Progro-ssivo Party in many of the chief centres at Last election wore, thu speaker stated, luru.er re.i*ons why action on tlio lints indicated slwiuld bo taken. Air F. C. Gerard supixirtcd tlio proposal, and was of opinion that tlie placing of such a measuro on the .Statu 1 -* llook wouiu det«-r many candii—atcs, who rolled mainly on tho splitting of votes, from .•• contesting Hoats. Alegars d. A. Staples, ■/' 11. R. Ru«bridgo, and \V. Orton aw> epdko in favour of tho propositi, nntl , tlio following motion wns carried: — ■That thia Association urges upon the .' Government the urgent necessity of ' nassiug an Act an similar liii'fs to tno lion. Robert MoNab's Absolute Majority Bill during tho coining session of Parliament." Tho operations ,of tlio Flourmillors" Trust woro critifciaedJ hy Messrs 0. Lit'tlcoott and 1 E. Jones. Mr Jones gave instances that had como under his p-T- ---, Bono-l notico in which he alleged that tho farmor wm fleeced- as well as tno . consumer, and ho alleged, that rarely '.' did tho farmor receive tor his wheat a prioe oquiTalont to that ruling ior flour. On tho motion of Air li. R. Ruabridge it vras resolved:—"Thnt the attention of the Government bo drawn to the operations of tho Flonrmiliers' Trust, and) tiliat this Association ia strongly of opinion that uio timo "is now opportune for tho State to step in and establish flour mills throughout , tho country. w jj" Tho following mofcio- was also carried:—"That thus Association congratn- . lntea tho Hon. J. A. Millar, Alinister of Labour, on his oxprcssed intention ;| of improTing the Arbitration and Con1{ dilation Act during th© next session vj of Parliament." Th© following was tabled as a notice of motion for aisenjssion at next meeting:—"__at •---s Association take into consideration tho adriaabloneaa of urging that the Municipal Elections Act do brought into lino . ; "irrth tho Electoral Act in the matter '<h 'of oomiparing and checking rolls antt '■;>• ballot papers on tho <ky following an ;'■ ©lection."