COUNTRY WORKERS’ ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 28

COUNTRY WORKERS’ ASSOCIATION.

/ The above Association has been successfully inauguated at Palmerston North by Mr Arthur J. Carr. An Executive Committee has been appointed. *W. H. Gomez being secretary, and F. C©packman, treasurer. The admission fee was fixed at Is, and ,a yearly subscription of 10s payable quarterly. The oDjecfs of the Association are as follows: —• 1. To establish bureaus at the different centres of the colony regarding work obtainable.

It often happens that a man in work knows of other jobs open in his vicinity. It is the duty of each member of the Association to at once advise the secretary of the nearest branch of the fact —< giving full particulars of work—'amount of wages, etc., and where possible getting to keep jobs open until the Association can supply men.

2. To promote legislation improving the living accommodation of country workers, and to provide suitable home®. This is the only legislation that will be asked for. It only means that the accommodation required under the Shearers’ Act be extended to all classes of country labourers. Regarding of the provision of suitable homes. Many men working in the country during the summer months have to put iu a lot of time in the towns waiting nntfl. the wet weather is over —their summer earnings all eaten up in living expenses, not to mention the temptations to which they are exposed to' spend money whilst idling about town. By continuing the cutting up of suitable land under the “Tillage Settlement Act” until every country worker has a whare and a few acres of land this state of affairs will be remedied.

3. To improve the social standing of counfry workers. When the Association is in full working order, which judging by th© enthuasism with which the idea is met by all those to whom it has been explained, a member of it will meet fellow associates in all parts of the colony—indeed there is no reason why it should not extend to Australia.

4. To promote good feeling between employers and employees. The first thing .essential to do this is to give a "fair days work for a fair day’s pay/’ Employers will soon gain confidence in the Association as soon as they see that it has not been created to artifically force up the rate of wages or unduly shorten the hours of labour. As there are at least 75i,000 men earning their living principally in the country it is easy to see that as soon, as fully organised the Association will"be a strong voting body. At the inaugural meeting it was agreed, that whilst each member of the Association had the right to exercise his own ideas, every candidate for political honours should be asked if he would do his best to carry out the legislation asked for -by the Association. AiOjOng the gentlemen to whom the ideas of the Association have been submitted and who have become honorary members are:—Mr* Cfohen, Mayor of Palmerston North; Mr Pirani, Mr Woods M.H.R., Mr Massey, M.H.E., (Leader of the. Opposition), Mr Herries. As Mr Pirani said at the meeting he attended in Palmerston North —"The objects of the Association are so good and simple that no worker could refuse to join it or any member of the House do anything but assist in carrying out the legislation that will he asked for. Any intending members will get any further information regarding the rules and regulations by writing to Mr W. H. Gomez, Secretary, Palmerston North, or Arthur J. Carr, Organiser.