SHEARERS' UNION FORMED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 5

SHEARERS' UNION FORMED.

EMANCIPATION OF LABOUR.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Friday. A conference of delegates representing the shearers' unions of the Dominion, was held in Christchurch recently, the sitting extending over three days. It was unanimously resolved, "That this meeting of delegates with the full consent of the several unions, and with the view of consolidating and placing the shearers of the Dominion and the Commonwealth on a firm foundation, forms itself into the New Zealand Shearers and Other Pastoral Employees' Industrial Union of Workers." It was also resolved that the headquarters of. the union be in Christchurch, an amendment in favour of Wellington being lost. At a later stage it was decided that the headquarters of the association be decided upon by the absolute majority of votes of the whole of the affiliated unions, the vote to be taken by a plebiscite during the shearing season of 1910-11, and thereafter every third year. A proposed constitution and rules for the federation, were considered, those of the Australian Workers' Union being taken as a basis and adopted with necessary amendments. The secretary (Mr. D'Arcy) was directed to proceed at once to Sydney for the purpose of gaining information from the head office of the Australian Workers' Union on the methods of administration. It was decided to hold the next conference in Wellington. The objects of the union, as briefly stated in the constitution, are:— regulate and protect the conditions of labour and the relations between workmen and employers, and between workmen and workmen, to impose restrictive conditions on the conduct of trade, business, or industry of members; to promote the general and material welfare of the members, and to improve the relations between employers and workmen; to gradually • replace the present competitive system of industry by a co-operative system; to provide legal assistance in defence of members' rights where deemed necessary; to establish and maintain a funeral fund for the burial of deceased members; to endeavour by political action to secure social justice; to establish and maintain labour journals; to assist by federation, or otherwise, kindred organisations in upholding the rights and privileges of the workers, and generally to assist in the emancipation of labour.