A LABOUR PROPOSAL.

Evening Star, Issue 14688, 4 October 1911, Page 7

A LABOUR PROPOSAL.

UXlO.\ TO BECOME EM FLOY Ell. Mr T. O’jSyrno introduco I iiu l t-iou oi iM' VNiurktrs' J. ■ iu-11 entering into the saw-uidih.g iudusUy as an n\vii<T,-it tho mcciinp, oi i.iu .uii'.'a on Saturday night. iJo 1 ailed to see why it could not ho worked; m (act, lie maintained, tho schemo could not possibly fail, as tile host wm kors would bo at the disposal of tlm union. All that was required was to scrum a suitable piece of hush. if trouble in liu: shape of a strike, or in any ether way, then arose, the union would have soiurthing solid at. its hack. The profits could he used for the purpose oi initialing r. strike fund ami a sick benefit fund, and tire proposal could be extended from time to tint'* in the direction of acquiring other sav,-mills. He knew of one. man who would guarantc-' £200; another man had ollotvd £AO, and he himself would give £OO towards bringing the scheme into operation. Members had been asleep, or the;, would have, taken the stop years ago. In Western Australia and in America unions owned saw-mills and were making tremendous profits. Tin y now hud a federation of saw-mill workers in the Dominion, and there was no reason why branches in other districts should not follow Southland’s lead. Mr J, Eunson thought that the proposal was a good one if it could ho carried out on business linos. Mr J. Alsweiler said that the union should not bo afraid to put the scheme into practice, and it could ho run cn business as well as on humanitarian lines. Eventually they would ho able to get hold of tho timber trade of the country. Tho men who worked in the industry should own it. Mr Vallance said that as practical men they would bo able to successfully carry out the scheme, and make profits at least as great as were at present made by unpractical men. Mr Insoll said that if they were able to create wealth for the bosses, they should also be able to do so for themselves.

Eventually on tho motion of Messrs Eunson and Stewart, the secretary was instructed to secure the option of purchasing a piece of hush, and to report to next meeting. —‘ Southland Times.’