TAILORS AND TAILORESSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13227, 12 July 1906, Page 6

TAILORS AND TAILORESSES

-i <m •""*"''-' SEQUEL TO A DISPUTE. MR. nossEirs .position*. RESIGNATION AND REELECTION At if meeting of the Auckland Trackv, until Labour Council. held a fortnight ago. the . Auckland Tailors' Union forwarded ,1 letter to the effect that. Mr A. Rafter (secretary: of the council) should not* continue to hold the. secretaryship as fas had ; opposed *ome of the demands of the Auckland Tailor** Union, while he (Mr. Rceeer) was appearing for. and advocating, the demand* of the Auckland Tailoieeses* Union, and submitting j •that he should not, on principle, oppose what was considered the legitimate and fair demands of the Tailor* Union. The matter was discussed in committee, and it went to tho vale. 10 voting that Mr Ro»« ser should not continue secretary, and 10 against. The president (Mr. H. ;W. Brookes) recorded his casting vote against the motion. At the ordinary meeting last evening, at which 59 delegates were present, «nd which waft one of the largest attendance* at- the council meetings, the following letter was read from Mr. A. Rosser, dated July 11: — "After the vote taken last, meeting, in which n want of confidence motion in me as secretary of this council was defeated only by the casting vole of tho chairman. beg to resign my, position p.i secretary of the council. Though therewas only a minority of the delegates liresent when the vole was taken, I object to be twitted' with the accusation that I am only in office on a chairman'!; casting vote. I consider that as secretary of this council, to say nothing of the Executive Council of all Now Zealand. I bhon.'d possess the confidence of the lanre ma" rity of the delegates, and unless I am assured of that fact I prefer to resign my position." The. President said the resignation came to him as a surprise, but as president he could not- see that he could do anything else. There were 21 delegates at the last meeting, and six represented the Tailors': Union. The voir was against the secretary, and he could not, with propriety, vote against him. The secretary to a. certain extent must have the sympathy and support of the executive officers. the president in particular. But last, meeting did not appear a fair representation of the council, and he took it that Mr. Rosser wished each' member to cast a vote. Mr. Rosser reminded them that at the last meeting he Raid he should have to consider hi« position became he was secretary of the executive of the Trades and Labour Council of New Zealand as well p« Auckland. The letter from the tailors had been sent in without an" notice of motion. Re entertained no ill-feeling to the delegates of tho Tailors' Union/ nor to those who voter! against him. and he would continue to have the best, of feelings towards them. The resolution came from the Tailors' Union, and was entitled to respect, but if it had come'from a delegate the council would have no right to deal with it. He submitted, then, it was a dispute between the Tailors' and Tailoresses' Unions, and he had acted as'tbo mouthpiece for the Tailor-esses* Union. Ho had no apology, but ho considered it his duty to give them every opportunity to consider the position. He had no wish to occupy the position unless he possessed the confidence of tho majority of delegates. He regretted having to take the step. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Moxsam (secretary of the Tailors' Union) said he moved that the resignation be accepted. He was sorry the secretary had attached so much importance to the censure of the last meeting. The meeting was fairly representative, with a number of delegates up to the usual standard. Mr. D'Autheroui seconded the motion. He said that Mr. Rosser bar! a fortnight's notice of -the letter and reflation, for it was handed in at the meeting which adjourned out of respect to the late Mr. iSeddon. - *. \ Mr;' Wallace slid'' as one who had worked a, great deal with Mr. Rcreser in connection with labour matters, he was sorry that the Tailors' Union had taken the stand they had. . ' ' The President: That, is, rather from the point. We are dealing with .Mr. Rosser'* resignation. . Mr. Wallace said there were too many divisions in the ranks of labour already. If the motion vms carried there would be another division. He had always found Mr. Rasser straightforward in all labour matters. In the present case Mr. Rosser had been appointed to conduct the tailoresses' case, and he had every right to do what he could for the tailorossea. Mr. D Authereau said MV. Wallace was not present at the last- meeting, or he would not talk in the way he was doing.' (Hear, hear.) Mr. Wallace said Mr. Rosser had always been an able advocate of the council and the Auckland district. (Hear, hear.) Ho moved, "Tha tho resignation be not accepted, and that the, council express its entire, confidence in Mr. Rosser as secretary." Aftei some discussion the amendment was withdrawn, so that a direct vote could be obtained on. the motion. Mr. Fischler asked if it was fair that the meeting should be asked to vote on a, question that they knew nothing About. Mr. Rosser had no right to circularise tha delegates, thus giving the: reasons why ho resigned. His explanation should have, been given at the meeting. Mr. Rosser posed as a martyr; he wished to make the delegates believe that he was being crucified by the Tailors' Union. (Cries of " Order" and " Rot.") The President said there could be no good gained in discussing the question in that light. Mr. Fischler: We offered to call a special meeting. We stated we wanted it heard, and we did. not care how many heard it. The vote was a great surprise to me. Mr. Rossei forced the vote himself. Several delegates said they wished to hear the charges before they would vote on the motion. The President said the- vote at the last meeting; did net actually affect Mr. Ilosse.r's seat. There were only 10 against him last, meeting, and six were from the Tailors' Union. After further discussion, Mr. Rosser thought the fairest way would be if the charges were stated again by one delegate from the Tailors' Union, and he would give his side of the case. (Applause.) Mr. Mbxsam: I have only to state the delegates of the Tailors' Union are prepared to stand by the last meeting. We expected a defeat, but were surprised at the result. The motion, "That the resignation be accepted," was then put/ and carried. Mr. Lang: I have much pleasure in nominating Mr. Arthur Rosser as secretary. Mr. Wallace seconded the motion. ■ Mr. D'Authereau moved that Mr. Ban-' field be secretary, but the latter declined. Mr. Ba.nfield moved that Mr. Moxsam he (secretary, and this was seconded, but he also declined. The President' said before he put the nomination Tie would like to mention one or two matters, so that Mr. Rosser would thoroughly understand the position he intended taking up. During his term of office Mr. Rosser had not conferred with him on the point. That was one of the exceptions he had with regard to the late secretary. In rule 12 it was provided the secretary •should make an abstract of the business at each meeting, and place it before the president. That had not been done. He wished the rules complied with, or he would leave the chair. Mr. Rosser said he was glad the president had brought up these matters. In the first pla,ee there ought to be a proper set of rules. (Hear, hear.) There, was no rale stating the time that correspondence should lie received up to, and. how could he make an abstract when letters were handed in at the meeting*? The President expressed satisfaction at the reply. ..'."'■.■*: . ' The motion that Mr. Rosser be re-elected secretary was. then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously on the voices.