PIONEER UNIONIST

Evening Star, Issue 22896, 2 March 1938, Page 9

PIONEER UNIONIST

DUNEDIN THE BIRTHPLACE OF MOVEMENT PARLIAMENT’S TRIBUTE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 1. Dunedin’s distinctive pioneering work in the Dominion’s trade union movement received recognition in the House of Representatives when legislators put on record their appreciation of the services of Mr John E. Jenkinson, a former member of the Legislative Council. Though he had not been a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Jenkinson’s death was not allowed to pass without recording his contributions to New Zealand public life, for he was a pioneer trade unionist who did much to shape the earlier industrial legislation. Mr Armstrong, Minister of Labour, stated that Mr Jenkinson was a member of the first trade union in New Zealand. It was started in Dunedin in 1882, and the men who had to pioneer the 'movement required a great deal of courage. Tho Minister said he wondered how many of the young people who were benefiting so much to-day from the work of these pioneer trades unionists realised just to what extent they were indebted to them.

“ Dunedin,” continued the Minister, “ was the birthplace of trades unionism in New Zealand, and I believe that a great deal of credit is due to Dunedin for much of the progressive legislation which found its way on our Statute Book and placed this country for so many years in the proud position of leading the, world in social reform.”

The deceased legislator, ho recalled, played a prominent part in drafting the first Shops and Offices Act, and he was also one of the framers of Hie first Factories Act. Trade union pioneers knew of the awful conditions which prevailed in factories in older countries, and they were determined, if they could manage it, to profit by those mistakes. Not content with his pioneer work in Dunedin, Mr Jenkinson took an active interest in establishing trade unions in Christchurch, and came to Wellington for the same purpose, so that ho not only thought of Dunedin, hut of New Zealand as a whole.