MEETINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4406, 12 July 1901, Page 6

MEETINGS.

The weekly meeting of tho Trades Council was held last night. Mr 'W. Naughton (president) -was in the chair. A letter was received from the Progressive Municipal. Association-inviting the members of the Council to be present at a public meeting at which Mr P. J . O’Regau is to speak upon the question, of rating upon unimproved values. A motion was considered providing that the council should set “up a commirtee to devise, a scheme for tho establishment of an employment bureau, to enable the unions to avail themselves more fully" of the preference clause in their “respective trade awards. It was contended by the mover that the present system of keeping employment books is unsatisfactory, both to employers and "Unions, and he suggested that a central office be established, where the whole of the unions’ employment books should be kept, with -a man in charge.All men out of work in the various trades should be required to keep themselves in touch with "the office. Various speakers pointed out the difficulty in obtaining a suitable office, until the council could obtain a Trades Hall. It was resolved to set up the committee, and do the best ..possibles unclbr the circumstances. A motion was tabled -that the Government be urged to give labour bodies a direct representation on harbour boards, and that the various trades councils of the colony should petition the Government to that effect. It was contended by "the mover that workers, “do not receive fair treatment at the hands of harbour boards, and men were required to do unnecessarily dangerous .and heavy work. “Various speakers said-that the workers had as much right to representation as other sections of the community. "A denuta tion was set up to wait upon the Government in reference to the matter. It was decided-to invite Mr ‘O’R.egan to address tb" council next Thursday night upon rating on unimproved values.-