HON J. BARR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16565, 1 June 1914, Page 10

HON J. BARR.

ENTERTAINED BY CANTERBURY CARPENTERS 1 UNION. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER AND PRESENTATION. A complimentary dinner was tendered on Saturday evening by the Canterbury Carpenters and Joiners' Union to tho Hon John Barr, M.L.C. Mr P. J. Fronting, tho president of the Union, was in the chair, and about one hundred members of the Union wero present. In proposing the toast of the guest of the evening, the chairman said that their object in meeting there was to do honour to tho man who had come to their help when they wero in trouble, and when they were unavoidably opposed to raembors of other Unions, in looking round they had been unable to find anyone who could do and who had done more for them than Mr Barr had done. He had done everything in his power to help the workers. He had been just to both parties, to the workers and to the employers. It was through Mr Barr that they had been able to free themselves from the award existing in other places, and it was also through him that they had now the best award of any Union in the dominion. They wished to give him something to remind him of the time when ho had come to their assistance. Whenever they had asked Mr Barr to give them assistance, he had given all in his power. Ho had much pleasure in asking him to accept, on behalf of the Union, a roller-top desk, suitably inscribed.

The toast was drunk with musical honours.

Mr Barr, in reply, said that ha felt more out of place at the meeting than he did in the Arbitration Court. (Laughter.) The presentation was suggestive, and he felt like a young workman who had been presented with a Mag of tools as an incentivo to do more. If he felt at home at the. Court ho also felt at home with carpenters. Though quite in sympathy with the carpenters, he had done no more for thorn than ho would hare done for any other Union. He had learned a great deal from his work in the Conciliation. Council, in the same way an apprentice learnt his trade from a master-builder. Ho wanted the young men to know what they should do when called beforo •the Council. When the workers put their case beforo the- Court, data on the part of individuals was what was required. Ho was pleased to say that in the case of the Canterbury carpenters their officials had been able to supply him with all the information ho required. Plain and honest facte won) what was generally wanted. Another weakness he found in the course of his work was the inability of the workers to state their exact wage per annum. These were some of the difficulties they woro up against. The employer was always a bio to bring out figures to prove his case, and that was not always -the case- with the workers. He had been able to get facts from the Canterbury Carpenters' Union, ft ho was successful it was duo to not only himself but to the men in charge of their affairs. Mr Barr was sure that, with the Union's splendid organisation, thjey wouid be able to overcomo the difficulties that he knew were coming in the nest few years. What they had to solve was how to increase the purchasing power of their money. One question thev had to loop into was cooperation. Another point he said he wished to raise was that to do the best for themselves they must attend their Union meetings. The men must bring all their ideas before the Union, and hammer away at the Union until thev had them considered. Ho thanked 'them for their present, and would USO it not only on their behalf but in the interests of trade unionists in "•enc'-al. He did not caro what their politics aid religion wore. As long as they were trade unionists, he would always be ready to Iwlp them. The following toasts were also honoured •—" Kindred Unions, proposed by Mr C. Goodsnll, and responded to bv Mr W. Bel! (Painters' Union) and Mr C. W. Obore (Plumbers' Union); " Technical Education," proposed by Mr H R. Pnsbridge, and responded to by Mr T. B. Bowring; "The President," proposed by Mr F. T. Eldridge, and responded to by Mr F. J. Proiiting; " The Ladies, proposed by Mr A. Vincent, and responded to by Mr W. J. Tiiidall: " The Performers." pro _ posed bv Mr G. Hillsden, and msponded to by Mr W. Palmer. During the evening songs were given '

by Messrs F. Tindall, L. E. Shaw, E. Loach, J. Tindall, a recitation, by Mr R. Muschamp, and instrumental items by Messrs Dobbie, AVithors and Blythe.