TRADES COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 4

TRADES COUNCIL

AN EMPHATIC PROTEST. "EPIDEMIC OF PERSONALITIES." Tho weekly mooting of tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council was held on Thursday night, Mr. W. C. Noot presidingovci a good attendance of members. Mr. James Thorn, president of the Christchurch, Council, was among thoso present. The* following letter was received from the Butchers' Union :— In forwarding the cheque I am directed to enter an emphatic protest against tho insulting remarks passed by a number of delegates at tho annual meeting in reference to my union, and also tho discourtesy with which its delegates were treated. My union instructs mo to (words missing) repetition of tho /■' conduct complained of will bo immediately followed by tho withdrawal of tho union. lam also instructed to draw attention to tho unclean state of tho rooms, and to request that th© rooms in future be made fit for the purpose for which they were originally provided. Tho writer, continuing, said: 1/ recognise that reform must. como from within, and I trust tho officers now in power will put an end to tho epidemic of personalities which has been evident during recent times. Mr. D. J. Conchio moved that tho letter be referred back to tho union. He objected to tho union's moralising and preaching as ' to_ what' tho council should do. What was said was richly deserved. . A delegate said that if tho comments wore merited it was time tho union loft tho council. '•'•■'■ Mr. Dowdall got oil his feet and protested against tho motion being put, but ho wa« ruled out of order, and the motion was lost. At a later stage of the proceedings, the question of making tho meeting room prosentablo wash'eferred to by a delegate, who moved that the secretary bo instructed to spend up to £5 in getting the. room thoroughly cleaned up. After discussion, tho matter was referred to the Management Committee. A letter was recoived from Mr. E. J. Carey, secretary of tho Cooks' and Waiters', Union, notifying tho council that his union endorsed tho suspension of Mr. A. Bloch, in connection with tho half-holiday requisition. .MIJU..I Mr. Dowdall: Has Mr. Bloch sent in his resignation?. ■•■ .* ■ -..*... . .-j. f ~,;„• Tho Chairman r; N6t ; up to' tho "present. ■' Mr. D. J. Conchio wanted to know what had been done in reference to tho Federation of Labour. It had, he said, been hanging firo for throo or four mouths, and ho moved that a report on the mattor bo presented to a future meeting of tho council.. This was agreed to. ' - Mr. James Thorn said that ho intended' taking a trip to the Old Country, and ho was going to lay before tho people,there some truthful statements regarding tho conditions of tho 'labour market in this country. Ho asked that tho various secretaries should supply him with tho required information. This was unanimously agreed to.