WELLINGTON TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 109, 31 January 1908, Page 4

WELLINGTON TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

Sir,—Since your correspondent "Tweezers'' has refused to accept my suggestion to gather together ten of his fellow malcontents (I doubt if that number exists) and ventilate his grievances at a general meeting ns provided by the rules of tho above Union,' 1 do not intend to notice his general tirade further, lint an explanation in regard to one or two allegations made is necessarv He claims that the year just closed has slinwu an abnormal suending capacity—due

' eipendrijure.": .On cvery occa- ■ Mpn tlio Union has taken a case to tlio ' Court thero has, been <i deficit on that half- '' t ■. joar s woiking.;: It inuut bo remembered,:-': tluit last yOiir the \Uniaa . took;:three dis-. ■ 9 ourt > nnd tho -total cost was less l,™,\ lono fc C nn e 111 ' lu dispute, , heard in IBJB., ilio com] ii,iati\o increases 111 v.agcs as a lcsult thcieo,. wore 1907, about .r.fW?! l ® week,, 1898,,m1.i. : Likewise,: tho do- ■ 1 ' ■ licit on:tlio. halt and ,th& whole-year's work- 1 ' nig was lest comparatively, In legard to .the financial problem propounded;- by•'• your' : Lonespoiident as to.iiow 1 was. out of ; pocket ■ • .9»'. 16s; peiyday... and.- f-'aU!'-' expenses;, let' < i explain to .liini; the -, word "all ': was ■ not- 111- ' ' ■ eluded m tho an-angemcnt. 'Jllie other Union representative did not got tho-samo '' remuneration, but tho 6amo plus Ilia salary as, secretary of tlio: Union, and to; my mipd'"'. - • '; toioro th.m -earned it In the future, no doubt, .tho services of."Tweezers'-'; will; beivr.v. available:at, a vinuch-lower, foe; and; if ac-.w Opptcd,. the Utnon may: confidently, expect. . vthe v aluo it pays for, It is pleasing to jioto . that your correspondent's criticism of, theUnion's affairs has been tvoll recop/ed by tho fair-minded members- of' tho- Unioni'^-and','- 1 been "particularly gratifying" to him. All tho samp, ho is not seeking too,jicuchfiratifi- • '' cation by a. wido; .dissemination of ■ the interesting intelligence. On, tho. occasions. ■ when simihr twaddle was 1 talked in tho Union meetings it did not enlist'the support of v ono : member.-.in :; addition ;■to the' speaker, and was generally listened to in tolerant silence. Th?ie can be uo starchamber methods or-chquos- in" ail'orgaiusa-- : tiou which decides:; every question- brought-- 1 before it on tho-vote of tho nwjority. ' Afl' every officer.is;dectivo' by annual ballot of- . all tho, city members, the actions of fchese ■ v must reflcct tho will-of" tho majority of members; S.y ; i? ■Instead of whining that' a -."reformerhaa ; ■ a lot to put. up witli,"oVpur correspondent v .-\ should realise that-the of a transgressor is Ir.rd. If tlio Union up -to the present has tailed, to appreciate all'tho-genius offer- •> ing from Taihape, there is still, iiopo/m the' serious proposal propounded',.'.to\ weigh ■ and measure tho soul of-man.- : It- is a small step. v i to apply, a similar knowledges to ■ tho mind.-:- , Evidently: your correspondent; is concerned nt tho wantonness and; folly of majorities. - : Ho should urge that numbers .be eliminated , •>. ■ - from consideration and intellectual .'.-.weight \ taken into account. This is tho- only pos- > sible: way I ■ can concoivo. of remedying tho ■" imaginary evils complained of,v; • As tho criticism of "Tweezers" is ' liot : taken seriously by, members of the Welling- : ton Typographical Union, I do not intend to notice further letters under tliis noni-do plume.—-I am. otc., . : A. D. ROBBIE. - Wellington, January . 28. ■ ..