DRIVERS UNION ANNUAL DINNER.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 105, 31 October 1900, Page 3

DRIVERS UNION ANNUAL DINNER.

« The, annual dinner of the Wellington' Drivers' Union was held at the Trocadero last night. The President (Mr. W. Hannifin) occupied the chair, and there* was a large number of members and their ludy friends present. The guests included the "HoiT'Mfr'SeTldon, Mrs: Se"dclon,"aiid"Miss Seddon, the Hons. J. G. Ward, J. Car-rt)H^*-and-T,. Duncan. - % An v dxt;ellent"T t e-" past, wlliclrwas much appreciated", was provided by Hbk Piflnockr* s "~ ' The usual 15yal toast having, been heartily -drunk,. Mr. H. W.-Wbrger (Vice-Chairman) proposed the toast of "TJie Army, Navy, and Rese i ry.e..E.qrc«9," which was drunk with much heartiness, accompanied by three cheers for our Contingents. .The toast was replied to by the Hon. J. G. -Ward, and Trooper O'Brien, of the Heretaunga Mounted limes-. * - --••' * *-"* -"■ Mr. Allan Orr proposed the toast of "The Parjia,ment of New ?ealand,"und in doing so he spoke In terms % df high appreciation of the labour legislation passed by the Parliament during recent years. The tqast was drunk with musical honours. ' • • - The Premier, in responding, said, some people took exception to the Premier being present at a drivers' banquet, but if it* Avas fitting he should have supper with the Employers' Association, why, he asked, should he not have supper with a Union of employees? (Applause.) In the past, men who had organised and entered unions had been marked men, and sent about their business, and' he had three or fcur of those men now on Government jobs. ' (Hear, hear.) When any man was sacrificed for such a reason it was the duty of the strong to assist him, and if he knew of a capitalist who Avas being crushed py other ' capitalists for doing what he believed to be right and in theinterests of his fellows, he would assist him and give him every. Government contract possible.. That's what he cajlled levelling up. " (Laughter and applause.) Speaking of the Parliament of New Zealand^ of whfchMie was very proud, ne said the laws passed last-session Would 'stand' out in bold relief for- many years to come. Relief had- been given to capitalists, and as to labour they had passed what was practically an' eight fours' law/ in the Public Contracts Act, whicU also provided that oil all public contracts the ruling rate of wages should be paid. The Parliament had passed laws which would prove to be for the benefit of the colony, while,, apart from legislation, the Government had made a regulation that In all. mail-carrying contracts no driver should be paid le& than £2 5s a week; JApplp.use.) . . > „,,,• The toasb of " The Lady Visitors " was proposed by Mr. Stone, drunk with musical honours, and replied to by Miss Seddon^ Mr* ,J. O'Brien proposed the toast of "The Drivers' Union," -which was drunk with much heartiness with musical honours. The President <Mr. W. Hannifin), vfche Vice-Chairman (Mr. H. *W: Worger), and Mr. Allan Orr (Secretary) responded. After the toast of "The Press," "Auld I^ang. Sync" was* sung, and the proceedings terminated with cheers for the Premier and the Government, for Mrs. Seddon and the ladies, andfor the President. During the even-., ing, songs were sung by Mrs. Robinson, the Hons. J. Carroll, J. G. Ward, and T. Duncan, and Messrs. Sampson and Stone.