OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 41, 12 November 1937, Page 7

OBITUARY

1 Mr. Andrew Collins The death occurred yesterday of Air. Andrew Collins, J. 8., Island Bay, Wellington, who has been described as "the father of trades unionism in New Zealand.” Mr. Collins gave 45 years of service .to the Labour movement up to his retirement in 1930. He died at the age of 88. Mr. Collins was born at Eghain, near Windsor, on May 29, 1850, ami after only a year’s schooling commenced work at 'eight years of age, bird scaring. Hater he was apprenticed to the ing and pastrywork trade in London. He came to New Zealand in 1870 in the barque Ballaratt, landing at Napier. He returned to England, but came out again in the Halycine in 1872, landing in Wellington. The vessel had 450 Scandinavian settlers on board, who went into the ‘‘forty-mile bush” in ’Wellington. About three years later he and two or three other men formed the Bread Bakers’ Union, the first union in the Dominion. Three years later the pastrycooks were added, so forming the present union. An agreement was reached with the employers as to working conditions, and when arbitration effme in 1898 his was the first union to register under the Act. He was an ardent advocate of the Arbitration Court. The wages were £3 a week for the first band, £2/10/- a week for the second hand and £2/5/- for the third

band. For sixteen years, until it went out of existence some fifteen years ago, Mr. Collins was a member of the Conciliation Board at Wellington. He was also associated with newspapers, and was for some years the workers’ representative on the board of directors of the ‘‘New Zealand Times.” Ip 1898 he represented the Operative Bakers’ Union and Tailoresses’ Union of New Zealand at the Labour C-on- < gress at Bristol, being the first Labour representative from New Zealand to attend a Labour Congress in England. Activity in Dominion. . In New Zealand Mr. Collins did ex- , tensive work in organising unions. He was secretary of the Bakers’ Union j for 45 years, and among others had been secretary to the Sawmillers’ Union and Gardeners’ Union, president of the Tailoresses’ and Pressers’ Union. Mr. Collins retired in March, 1930. Mrs. Collins predeceased him. Mr. Walter C. Winchcomb The death lias occurred at his residence, Island Bay, of Mr. Walter Clifford Winchcomb, accountant of the Post Office Savings Bank at Wellington. Mr. Winchcomb was born in 1887 at ■ Wanganui, where he received his education. In 1902 he joined the Bost and Telegraph Department at M’anga-

nui and subsequently served at Hunterville, Hastings, Te Aro, Christchurch and Wellington. In 1920 he was promoted to the position of examiner in the accountant’s branch, G.P.0., Wellington, finally holding the position of senior supervisor in that branch. In February of this year he was promoted to accountant, Savings Bank, Wellington, which position he was still holding when his death occurred. He took a keen interest in all sporta, and during his residence at Hastings and Christchurch was an Association football referee. During his later years be was a keen golfer, and at the time of his death was a member of the Hutt Park Trotting Club and the Island Bay Bowling Club. Deeply interested in the Masonic craft, Mr. Winchcomb was a P.M. of Lodge Waterloo No. 13, Wellington. Prior to the cortege leaving\for Karori cemetery, a' short servl/; was held at his residence, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. J. R. Neild, St., Hilda’s, Island Bay. A further service was held at the crematorium, followed by a Masonic service., The pall-bearers at the house were Messrs.Jtfullins, Beveridge, Martin, Williamson, Sanders and Bunckenburg, of the Post and Telegraph staff, and at the crematorium, Wor. Bros. Martin and Morgan of the Waterloo Chapter, and Wor. Bro. Warner and Bros. King, Scott and Wilson of 'Waterloo No. 13. The late Mr. Winchcomb leaves a widow and*son.