A "WASHING-UP"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 132, 1 December 1914, Page 4

A "WASHING-UP"

WHARF LABOURERS' UNION FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. " IN A SORRY PLIGHT."

The first annual meeting of fch<£ Wharf Labourers' Union (formed at the time of the strike last year) wa« held in the Trades' Hall last evening, close on a. hundred members being present. Mr. A. Black, vice-president, was in the chair, the president, Mr. F. Curtice, being absent through illness. The secretary (Mr. J. G. Brace.) reported that the new rules had been linaUy passed by the Registrar of Awards. J In his annual report (read by Mr. G. H. Gray) the president- stated, he had only been in office for a brief period, bat it might be claimed that even within the short period from. 19th. I November changes had been carried out , for the benefit of the- members, viz., ! the new and amended rules of the union, which placed, democratic government of the union in the hands of the members. I If such .had been the case when the union was formed he was of opinion thai the union would not have been in the sorry plight it was in to-day. " However, do not be discouraged," added the president. " The future is ahead of you and it is in your own hands to make or mar. My advice to | you is to look after your own business, [ attend the meetings, and see that your instructions given to your officers are carried out. Keep the agreement to the letter and see that the employers do likewise, and I, for one, have no fear of the future." (Applause.) "ESTABLISHED A RECORD." The report of the secretary for the year ended 23rd November, 1914, opened with the remark, "I can say very little, having held office as secretary from 19th November, 1914." Since the inception ■of the union, Mr. Bruce added, hit* predecessors had been numerous; in fact, as far as be was aware, established a record for New Zealand. The position of secretary had been held by six persons other than himself, and there had been three presidents, including Mr. F. Curtice, the present "president, wHich clearly showed that the union had had "a stormy passage" for the last twelve months, and would need tlie assistance of all hands to " wear it off a lee shore." Since his appointment as secretary iio had done his best to try and get affairs ship-shape. The executive had rendered him every assistance, especially Messrs. G. Gray and Hugh Callaghan, who were appointed to assist the secretary in carrying out. Ids duties. Mr. Gray had devoted all his time to the union's books, and he (Mr. Bruce) had to thank him for being able to place before the members an unaudited statement of the financial affairs of the union. UNION URGED TO PULL TOGETHER. After referring to the large expenditure incurred by the executive and in "incidentals," Mr. Bruce said that out of £1605 5s 3d collected, the new officers found themselves with £18 19s lOd, £13 2s 4d of which had been paid into the bank. The debts exceeded the amount of the balance. Continuing, the secretary expressed his thanks to Mr. H. Callaghan for the manner in which he had carried out his duties as wharf delegate, and stated that the members who had left the wharf for other occupations during the year were expected to pay up and resign from the union. It was hoped that the money would be collected without having to sue in the Court. It was the duty A the members to abide by the agreement, and also to see that the employers did likewise. "I will conclude," continued Mr. Bruce, "by hoping that the union will soon again be in smooth water, and that the past year will, as far as possible, be forgotten, and all the members of the union will work together for theii? own interests." UNAUDITED BALANCE-SHEET. The unaudited ' balance-sheet showed : Receipts £1605, including contributions and entrance-fees £1599 19s 3d; expenditure, £1686 5s 5d (including executive expenses £862 14s 3d, legal expenses £165 8s 6d, clerical expenses "" £112 18s 10d, Hnntly Relief Fund £100); balance to credit in bank. £18 19s- lOd. The summary of executive* expenses presented was as follows: — E. J. Jones £186 7s, J. L. Radcliffe £179 2s 3d, C. A. E. Purdey £86 Bs, R. R. Pointon £54 15s, W. M. Connell £93 9s, T. J. Ladd £57 19s, W. I. Shanty £32 8s 2d, W. 0. Long £30, H. Callaghan £35 ss, other smaller amounts £107 0s lOd, total £862 14s 3d. The assets were set down at £79 12s lOd and the liabilities £142 4s 9d. EXPENDITURE CRITICISED. During a lengthy criticism on the heavy expenditure, a letter dated Hfch February, 1914, from Mr. C. B. Morison, K.C., was read, to the effect that in his opinion no payment, to members of the executive could go beyond the resolution adopted by the general meeting, "That all members of the executive be paid out of union funds for all time lost through attending executive meeting* during working hours." "In my opinion," went on Mr. Morison's letter, "the mere fact that the executive subsequently fixed a rate per day to bo paid io members of the executive does not justify payment out at that late. Tbo rate might be either too low or too high. Iwo 'questions of law have to be decided in each issue; (1) t}»e time actually lost; (2) the fair rat© of pay which the member would have earned had h» been working. It will be observed that the resolution of the general meeting prfr vides for payment 'for all time lost.' That, to my mind, limits the rate of payment to the rate of wages payable at per horn- for the work ordinarily done by the particular member of the execu tive. The executive has no power, in my opinion, to fix this rate arbitrarily at 25s per day. The members of the executive are in the position of trustees./ They cannot dispose of the funds for their own benefit, except in accordance with the resolution of the general meeting." There was a good deal of comment re lating to the sum under the heading of "executive expenses," also on the fact that two unauthorised payments had been made in connection with the Rules Revising Committee. Various other items were also subjected to pointed criticism. and_ finally the discussion waa adjourned until the balance-sheet had been audited. OFFICERS NOMINATED. Nominations for positions as officers were received as follow: President, Mr. F. Curtice (elected unopposed) ; vicepresident, Mr. A. Black (elected unopposed); secretary, Messrs. J. H. Hill, John Larwood, J. G. Bruce, and James Bruton ; assistant secretary, Messrs. G. H. Gray, Hugh Callaghan , A. G. Lindsay, and Robert Richards; treasurer, Messra. H. A. Taylor, D. Smith, W. T. Bassett, and W. D. James. It was decided that the ballot be taken on 16th and 17th December. Mr. P. Murphy was elected returning officer, and Messrs. D. Reidy and G. Vincent were elected scrutineers. 'The meeting then adjourned until 15th December.