LABOUR MEETING AT WHANGAPOUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8386, 14 October 1890, Page 6

LABOUR MEETING AT WHANGAPOUA.

A meeting of the Kauri Timber Company s employes was held in the schoolroom, on Friday, October 3rd, for tho purpose of discussing the advisability of joining the North New Zealruw-t Timber Mill and Bushmen', Union. Mr. Belham was in the chair, and gave those present an insight into tho working of the above union by reading some extracts from private letters lie had received from some friends of his in Auckland, who were members of the union, and asked those present to move a resolution so as to show the feeling of the employes here towards the union. Mr. Turner said he thought it was hardly necessary to do so, as he held a letter in his handif it could be called a letter— which he had received from Mr. Graham ask-

ing him to convene a meeting of the employes here three months ago. He stated tliat lie had had discussions on it at the barracks, and the men weio unanimously agreed to have nothing to do with the union, as they had no faith in it, and did not believe in

affiliating with the Trades and Labour Council or tho Maritime Council. The mon had agreed to join the Knights of Labour, [ as they had organised all the employes of the Kauri Timber Company on the East and West Coast, and they wished to bo unanimous with tho rest. Notwithstanding all that-, lie would move, "That the employes at this meeting are not desirous, nor do they, nor will they, join the North New Zealand Mill and Bushmen's Union as it is now constituted." Mr. Turner then wont on to say that when such men as Messrs. White, McKinstry and the others who resigned had loft tho society, it was time that all left it, for he considered that they wanted a few more men of tho White stamp in it. Ho knew that Mr. White was a man of good sound sense, as he had sat with him on two or three friendly society conferences ; and as for the party who wrote the letter to him, and who was going to organise some 8000 men, all he could say was, "Cod help tho thousands," for if he could not organise any bettor than he could write letter* ; well, he was not lit to organise, schoolboys,' for tho letter to the speaker did not say where tho union was, or whore the lottor was sent from.

Mr. Gordon seconded the resolution, and said that if the union had not affiliated with any other crowd, but had stood on their own bottom, they would have had all the mill and bushmen in New Zealand.

After .some discussion, in which the actions of the union was severely criticised, the Chairman put th« resolution to the meeting, which was carried unanimously. lb was also unanimously resolved at the same meeting, "That the letter of the Aratapu and Kopuru Knights of Labour to the directors of the Kauri Timber Company be indorsed, and a copy of tho resolution be sent to the directors of the Kauri Timber Company by the hyal Whangapoua assembly of the Knights of Labour. The people here are of opinfon that it will be useless for Messrs. Mills and Graham to come here, as they would be wasting time, and what is raoro, they would be wasting a lot of money that is needed for somothfn" else. °

We have had a visit from Messrs. Connell and Debney, of the Maritime Council, soliciting aid on behalf of tho present

strike. They held a meeting here, grave us all the phases of the strike, and what they had done and what they intended to do. They left a list with the chairman, who said he would lay it before the next meeting of the Knights of Labour." The Knights of Labour held a special meeting on Saturday night, to admit some who could not possibly attend on the regular meeting nights. I believe six were admitted. After the assembly closed the young and old went in for three or four hours' dancing.—[A Correspondent.]