AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12850, 8 July 1907, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' UNION.

A large and enthusiastic mooting was held in tho Methven Schoolroom on Saturday evening. Tho meeting was called by the Canterbury Agricultural Labourers' Union. Mr it. McDonald, sen., was voted to the chair. The organi?er of the Union, Mr E. Kennedy, addressed tho meeting, giving information with respect to the various branches in the Canterbury industrial district. Ho reported that on the Soiithbridge railway lino ove-ry town now had a branch, with most energetic chairmen and secretaries and committees. Ho denied the statement which had been freely circulated that the proposed conditions had been drawn up by townsmen, and ho related to tho meeting the history of them. He assured his audience, that after the conditions had been drawn up, they were then submitted, to the various branches and amended, and he believed improved by this mothod. Hβ was indignant with thoso who contended that a half-holiday per week was impossible, and assured his audience that it was for the purpose of securing the Saturday half-holiday that the Union was first formed. He. assured them that there were several farmers who gave their men this boon, and asked if what some men gave, to their employees willingly could be considered impossible. \lr Kennedy's remarks were greeted with storms of applause. The President of the Union, Mr «J. A. McCullough, then addressed the meeting at some length; and throughout his utterances, which were not complimentary to the officers of the Farmers' Union, were tumnltnously received. Indeed, so entlmsiastic was the audience that at the conclusion of Mr McCullongh's remarks, and in response to his request for members to join tho Union, his offer to answer any questions was quite lost sight of in the rush to the taolo to secure mem. bership tickets. Fifty new members were enrolled, and a good deal of competition was displayed by the new members desiring to be chosen as witnesses for the Arbitration case now pending. It was decided that another meeting should be held next Saturday evening, when, with the new members who hay« promised to join during the week, a final selection of witnessoe will be made.