COSTLY CONCILIATION

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 231, 23 June 1908, Page 9

COSTLY CONCILIATION

APPEAL FOR AID. UNIONS AND THEIR FINANCES. ' (Nt TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, Juno 22. Tlio financial affairs of the Farm Labourers' Union came before tho Tramway Employees' Union at its meeting yesterday, when a circular was received from the former union asking for assistance ill connection'with tho expenses incurred in carrying on its long drawn out disputo before tho Conciliation Board. One paragraph of tho circular read as follows:—

" Further still, our typewriting bill, which we had to contraot at the dictation of the Arbitration Court, amounts to at least £220, and in addition to this wo have been practically forced to pay a portion of tho cost of tho Board's copies of evidenco because tho Govornmcnt refuses to pay for them." Tho circular further stated that tho farmers had practically attempted to financially ruin the Union.

The secretary of the Tramway Union said that he understood that the Trades • and Labour. Council had authorised all the . expenditure so far as tho Farm Labourers' Union was concerned.

Another speaker said, ho had ovQry sympathy with the Farm Labourers' Union; still, thoro was a right and a...wrong way of viewing the matter. Ho moved: —"That in tho absence of authentic information as to tho financial -position of tho .Farm Labourers' Union, this Union does-not see its way clear to rendor assistance to-the IJnion until it has had an opportunity of reviewing tho financial position of the>Unioji by the. issue of a duly credited balance-sheet." ' Continuing, he said that some eight- or nine months ago tho Trades and. Labour 'Council sent deputations round to - all tho unions to get financial assistance for the Farm Labourers' Union, and £100 9s. was obtained. The Union, has a- membership..of between 1500 and 2000. Taking the lower number, with an entrance fee of ss. for each, it would represent £375; and assuming' that each member paid 3d. per week, that would represent for six months' £489, a total of £964 9s on six months' working. Tho Union was inaugurated - some - four years ago - by tho Trades and Labour- Council, but what it had been .doing with its' finances up to the prosent ho was not in a position to know. It was no nse,voting tho Union £5 or £10, and then find , that it had £SOO or £400 to its credit. The Union had gone to. tho trouble of issuing Mr. Thorn's summing? up speech in pamphlet form, and if -it had money to waste in that way he did not see tlio necessity for the members of the Tramway Union putting their' hands in their pockets to help it If tho Farm Labourers' Union allowed 'two qualified persons not connected with tho Union to audit their books, and present a balancc-sheot, then, if it wanted £100. or £500, it would bo forthcoming, but' thoy should not take it on hearsay that the Union was " nearly broke," - ' - The motion 'was agreed to'. :