TRADES UNION COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9880, 11 April 1893, Page 2

TRADES UNION COUNCIL

SKCOND SOCIAL,

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT.

The second of the series of ■ soc Ula * instituted by tho Wellington Federated Trades Union Council was held night in Thomas’ Hall, aud passed off very pleasantly. Dancing formed tho staple of the entertainment, ami between tba dances various songs and recitations wer* rendered, whih Mr Jenkins contributed a cornet solo. At a convenient intetvalthoprcfiidect(MrD. P. Fisher)mounted tho rostrum an-j delivered aa address. Ha expressed hia gratification at seeing such a Urge gathering, especially of the ladies. They were led to understand that the franchise would in a short time be conferred upon the ladies, and it was, therefore, high lima the ladies generally b gan to take a keen Interest in all political and a clal matters. As sre*idect of the Trades Council he considered it his duty to explain why the council bad instituted there periodical ‘socials.’ The reasons were two-fold ; First, to afford an opportunity fer all well-wishers to come together to epr=ud a pleasant evening, and Be.ond, to indneo a wider interest in the council itself, and particularly by the ladies. They were the greater sufferers when adversity over ook the workpeople, and that was why he particularly wished them, as well as those who doubted th& utility of the council, to bs made aware of tho importance of the w;»rk performed by it. Tho spirit which called the council into existence demanded the limiting of boy labour, the Eeourity of adult labour, and la seme occupations the lessening of the wo* king boars and an increase in tho wages. Early in its career tho council found that by an open field having presented to increased population, Insane competition endued, with its consequences of missry and poverty. Where it was p-isible to do so the bread-winners had to give place to youths aud female*, the change, of course, being made so as to gain cheaper labour. If trade bad demanded such a change it would have been wrong to take exception to it, but trade did not demand it, and therefore the community was made to eutlar for the avariclousuees of certain employes. As it would take tco long to recapitulate all the beneficial actions of the council, be would content hirmelf by brifffy giving a few instances. The council had a splendid record. The working hoars of tho butchers, bakers, and tram employees were considerably reduced and their wages raiterlally increased; the hours of the tram employees wore con. aidarably reduced, the wages of the tailcreescs were increase*), and boy Übcur was restricted in the printing trade- Betides this many dlffrrences be’.vvoen anions and employers had been amicably ettiled by tie council. Another phase of the usefulness of tho council, was that it found that the laws dealt tmqaslly with the workers aod the capitalists. Inequality prevailed. It therefore cefc to work to have introduced In IWlUmenfc legislation purely in tha Interests of the workers. It mivht not be generally known, hut it was a fact nevertheless, that there waa not ogg Act on the statute book in the interest of labour that the council had not played sota part Id getting there. Xhe b e cefit of this legislation to the workers was simply incalculable. Labour legislation was Imperative, as no country could bo said to be prosperous where the tendency was to legislate only for tba capitalistio class. There was now an encouraging hign that the spirit of enquiry into nolitioal aud social matters was growing. Then there was the work of the council’s representative on the Sweating Commission. He and the Rev Mr Waddell, of Dunedin, were the .instigators of that Commisifon recommending Ftrl|*<

(,iy Nj'viH Factory Act and an Appren- • AcL Thjn nUI .v; boon t-,v- -inhA-cG tuo !'-■ ir-jh-» ; J t> c w-;-j I U v/'i‘:ru there wai wo-k t > bo dono and whe o thera wore unom ployed, and thca it tool: tho unemployed to t.ho place vvhove there wai work for them, Thocmooil claimed credit for helping 1o *tart tnat most mefdl department. Jt aoproaohod tho Government for Bomelhir : g for tho unemployed who were given bush felling work. Tint was too f luudation of tho Labour Bureau, Another effect of the omnoil'a ©lForta wee tho appointment of labour representatives t * the Legislative Council. Tee Trades Council stood to the worker? in very much the same rotation a* th ) Chamber of Oommeroo st/od to the capitalists. Both iostUolion* were absolutely nco:o:-ary, for, by preferring their requirements to the Government, equitable and ju-)t legislation would be more likely attained, and by tho existence of both there was more likelihood of strife between employer and employed, which had done so mush to blast industrial progress and freedom, being removed. Tho co;ncil in tended to take a prominent part in the forthcoming election for members of Parliament. The precise action it will take he o'>u!d not at present state. But ho trosted that if lb not up one or more candidates it would moot with the support and interest of «11 present. The * social * was carried out iinler the direction of a c .mmitf.ee consisting of Msbhtb Allan Ward (chairman and M.G ), TJ. P. inker, Co); inn, tt. C. Jor-es (secretary), and the Hon J. Bigg, M.L.O Mr Barlow (pianist) fuml/bod the dance music.