TRADES COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 406, 15 January 1909, Page 4

TRADES COUNCIL.

WEjEKLY NfEETINC. ~ Mr. G. H. Lightfoot presided at the weekly meeting of tho Wellington Tradeß and Labour Council last night, and there were over 20 delegates present. Reporters wero admitted after a considerable period of exclusion from all meotings of the council, and wero welcomed by the president and delegates. . A DISAFFECTED UNION. '. Tho Wellington Drivers' Industrial Union of Workers wrote'proffering their withdrawal from affiliation with the council at tho expiration of the present quarter. It was suggested by one member that tho withdrawal should be accepted, subject to three months' .notice, according to the' rules, but an amendment, moved by Mr. D. M'Laren, that tho union bo approached' by the oxeoutive officers of the council, with a view to reconsideration, was carried unanimously. ! . THE BRITISH UNEMPLOYED. Mr, E. Whitaker, of Petbno, forwarded an appeal for assistance for tho British unemployed. • ' ■ Mr. A. Bloch moved: " That the'letter lie upon the table." He thought New Zealand unionists had enough to do in connection with their own unemployed. ; . Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P/, said ho would like to know more about the v movement. The name of Robert' Blatohford, connected with the appeal, prompted his sympathy. A suggestion that the letter should-.be sent Home, stating the facts as to unemployment in' New Zealand, was not adopted, and the resolution was passed. ■ ; ■ : MUNICIPAL MARKETS. r\ ..Tho President reported that he had, with the secretary, .waited upon the Mayor (Hon. T. -!AV.' Hislop) to urge the'desirability of municipal markets. The Mayor had replied that the City Council had no money_ to spard for the enterprise at .present. .'■ They had suggested the old tramway shed site as. being situated in tho-midst of a considerable population of workers; and had urged that'the establishment : of' a market .would be beneficial to the community. The Mayor had not held out much hopo, and had said that all available cash was wanted for water and drainage works,' but ; he suggested that a ■deputation should wait on the City Council. :.■■■:' /PROPOSED LABOUR PAPER, i , '. The. Hon. J.. Rigg, M.L.C., attended 'by .permission to address the Council on the proposal to establish a,Labour paper. He declared that .the existing newspapers did not treat; labour disputes fairly. No paper in Now 'Zealand had.said anything against the sending of the police, to Broken HilT,.and.but for:the.Hon. Mr. Guinness, there;would apparently have been no public'protest against the'massing'of "police at Reefton.' Proceeding', Mr.'Rigg said that the proposed Labour i pappr, 'which -he was prepared to help sot' on a proper footing, would be au attractive up-to-date..'illustrated weekly, published at ono penny, and /.containing general, as well as Labour,' news.. Its policy would bo that of I the annual Trades Council Congress. It would be somewhat similar in appearance to' the .'-'Westminster. Gazette,", with eight pages and a-cartoon.-. Mr.-Chapman .and himself wore prepared to'take any remuneration the directors-thought fit, and would take it half in cash and half in shares,: but thoydirectors were at liberty, to make ,any. other arrangements if they preforredi' It .would* be .neccs'sary.to.be .assured of a circulation.of -3000. Tho paper should he chiefly controlled by the ico'uncil and the unions, and there should, be 1000 shares of £l:each; but the.capital need not all be called up at once.' ; : He would guarantee ithat if his .plans for the paper wero carried-but, they would.shake,up the Labour movement.from one end of,the country to the other. .'..; - .-■'..'. -.- ',' .. '■"'-,;:■.',.'■':■ .Mr. BvM'Laren, M.P., expressedva fear' that the unions were .riot, fully ;educated. up to tho united action'which was .necessary for the.'successful ostablislimont : of;a paper. '/. ',' It was resolved that':';.the .council-; should .support the scheme and take'up.ten shares; ,'alsp that .the., union's'.be. recommended to :lovy a,compulsdry',subscription: to.assist the/funds of-tho paper.'vV. k'. >,■■ . ;.' ! ,.'.';' '~."•",'', ..",'-