TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12447, 17 December 1903, Page 3

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held in the Tailoresses' Hall, Cook-street, last evening, Mr. -Thos. Phillips, president, in the chair.

Preference to Unionists: Mr. Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., attended, and addressed the meeting on the question of compulsory preference to unionists. He said that his main reason for accepting the invitation to address the members of the council on the matter -.was because of a misunderstanding that had apparently arisen in connection with a statement he had made to a Herald reporter concerning preference to unionists, and to his subsequent action in the House. It appeared that certain members of the council were under the impression that prior to the session he favoured compulsory preference, but he had certainly not done anything to warrant such an impression; in fact, both publicly and privately, ho had announced that he could not support it. Compulsory preference to unionists was opposed to his fundamental principle that every human being was entitled to equal right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. He held that no man should be at the risk of being debarred from earning his livelihood at his trade because he did not see his way to becoming a unionist. The idea of organisation of labour was to secure juster consideration and remuneration, aims that could be secured in far better ways than by compulsory preference. The first of these was the single tax, the throwing of the tax on the land values. Mr. Fowlds went into details in support of his contention, and at the conclusion questions were answered. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Fowlds was accorded on the motion of Mr. Rosser.

--'Withdrawals .and Delegates' Status: Mr. Wl H. Lucas, secretary of the Thames Miners' Union, wrote intimating that at a recent meeting of the committee it had been unanimously decided that the -union should sever •• its connection with the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, a decision that was arrived at in consequence of the disqualification of the union's delegate, which left it without representation on the council. He added that it would be out of the question to send delegates from the Thames, and the union did not know of any persons in Auckland who would be eligible, ' and in whom the union would have confidence enough to trust its interests. A letter was also read from the Auckland Operative Bakers' Union, intimating that at the close of the . present quarter the union would cease to be represented on the council, as the union had apnlied for cancellation of its registration. The intention was to reform the union under another name, and after re-formation the question of again affiliating to the Council might be considered. A telegram from the registrar (Mr. E. Tregear), at Wellington, intimated that the amended rule relating to the status of delegates would be accepted if the two necessary printed slips, signed by the president or secretary, were forwarded .to him. The resignations of the two unions mentioned were accepted, and the secretary was instructed to take the required steps to arrange for the acceptance of the amended rule. Arguments were also adduced in favour of preference to unionists by delegates present. Remarks by the President: The president, in closing the meeting, stated that the council would now stand adjourned until January 13, and tendered the compliments of the season to the delegates, and also wished that in reassembling the delegates would all work together harmoniously to advance the cause of labour.