Workers' Union.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6209, 19 March 1895, Page 1

Workers' Union.

A general meeting of the Executive and members of the New Zealand Workers' Union was held at the head office, 'Waimate, on Saturday, there being a good attendance. Mr Brown occupied the chair. Correspondence was dealt with from the Registrar of Friendly Societies (Wellington), Hastings, Timaru, Oamaru, Kaikouri, Blenheim. Temuka, Tapanui, Gore, Dunedin, Waikaia, Christchurch, and Hakateramea reporting progress. The Secretary was instructed to attend to certain matters pertaining to station accommodation, also to forward Conference reports and rules of the Society to the Hon. J. Carroll. The organiser of the Union, Mr J. F. Mercier, who was present, gave his report of the work done in the North Island ; the following being an outline : After doing an extensive tour of the Wairarapa, visiting stations and holding meetings in different centres and enrolling 200 members, he found the principal evil existing to be the bad accommodation for shearers, .and the boycotting of travellers against accommodation and food. He proceeded through to the Rangitikei, en route for inland Patea, calling also at Woodville, Palmerston North and Feilding, and enrolling members. From Marton, inland Patea was visited, and he found wonderful sympathy existing amongst the workers for the Union. Over 100 members were enrolled at four stations, and a crowded meeting was held at Mowhonga, all but three in the audience holding up their hands for tickets. Accommodation for shearers in this district was disgraceful. From Mowhonga Mr Mercier visited Waipawa and Hastings. At the latter place Mr Mercier delivered a Labor address to some hundreds of people in the open air, and held a crowded meeting a few days afterwards in the hall at Hastings, assisted bv Mr S. Carnell, M.H.R., Mr Stanton (Master Workman of the Napier Knights of Labor), and Mr Kirby (the"editor of the Napier Evening News) Leaving Napier, Mr Mercier visited Wellington, and interviewed the Minister of Labor re the bad accommodation for shearers at stations throughout the colony, and also spoke of injustice done to men working on stations by the Employers' Liability Act in deducting 4jd in the pound off shearers' wages. The exchange on cheques was also brought under the Minister's notice. Mr Reeves assured the organiser that accommodation would be inspected and rectified under the Factories Act, and that employers deducting 4id in the pound off shearers' wages were acting illegally ; also that employees need not take cheques or orders unless signing an agreement to do so, but must be paid in cash. The Hon. J. Carroll was introduced re plans for organising the Maories for protection against the whites. He advocated a Maori organiser and linguist, and assured him of his influence and sympathy. Mr Mercier, by invitation, addressed the Wellington Trades and Labor Council, and was received most heartily. Promises of co-opera-tion and assistance were accorded the organiser in the formation of a branch of the Workers' Union at Wellington when the Executive deemed fit. Mr Mercier proceeded to Dunedin. via Christchurch.. Mr W. W. Collins, President of the Christchurch branch, was interviewed by Mr Mercier and he promised to do what he. could on behalf of the different evils Mr Mercier encountered during his tour. At Dunedin, arrangements were made for the formation of a branch of' the Union next year. Mr Mercier speaks in scathing terms of the attitude taken up by squatters against •workers in the North Island by employing Maori labor in preference to white, boycotting travellers against accommodation and food on stations, employing as little labor as possible because of their bitterness and antagonism against the Government. Pamphlets to workers are being distributed making disparaging statements against the Government. General satisfaction is expressed amongst workers over the recent labor legislation of last session, and the North Island members are registering under the Conciliation Act.

Mr Mercier was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and expressions of satisfaction accorded him by the Executive. The nomination of the Executive then took place, resulting as follows ;—President, Mr T. Brown; vice-presidents, Messrs A. Walker, G. Pearce, and A. Shirley; trustees, Messrs W. H. Lundon, J. Sullivan, and J. O'Connor; treasurer, Mr H. E. Mann; general secretary, Mr J. O'Brien.

During the nomination for general secretary Mr Mercier spoke of the aptitude and promptness of Mr O'Brien in forwarding and answering correspondence.

Mr Pearce proposed, and Mr Lundon seconded, that the secretary should write to Mr Spence concerning the Australian wool testers'with a view of getting some of them into the New Zealand market and exhibited at future agricultural and pastoral shows. , It was proposed by Mr Hazleton, and seconded by Mr Shirley, that the Government be . requested to start cooperative works to meet the unemployed difficulty during the coming winter. . ; On a motion proposed by Mr Lundon a hearty vote of thanks;was accorded to the retiring officers for their past services. Messrs Brown and Pearce suitably responded, and the latter mentioned that during the visit of the Tariff Commissioners he. had given evidence which.in all probability would result in : having . the duty removed from sheep shears. '-" After Tesolving that a meeting of the Branch Committee should take place on Saturday evening next, a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceedings to a close.