THE MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10419, 23 July 1895, Page 3

THE MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

meeting of sympathisers'.with the object or the Miners' Association—to find emplojment oil the goldfieldo for men out of work—was held in the Garrison Hall last night. Mr George Fenwick presided, and there were about 1000 persons; present. Among those who occupied Beats on the platform were the Revs A. North, W. Beady, and L. 3. Harrison, Messrs J. Ryley, J. A. D. Adams, \A. S. Adams, W. Tolcher, and W. H. Warren.- ---_ Letters of apology were received from Bishop -Nevill, Dean Fitchett, the Revs C. S. Bowden andW. H.Ash, Messrs Keith Ratnaay, J P Armstrong, J. F. M,,Fraftr. C-Colclough, S GUnionr (secretary of the Engineers' Association), P. JR. Sargood, and J.IH, Ritchie. Mr Sargood wrote espreasiog his regret, as a subscriber to the unemployed relief fund, that the committee of that fund had decided that they s could not support the '.Miners1 Associations scheme, and also sympathising with the object of the association.

Mr Ritchie sympathised with the object of the meeting, ami stated that ho only regretted that subscribing so recently to the'-relief works must make it difficult or impossible for many to help the Hiuers' Association who would otherwise have willingly done so. Although he touud it impossible to vote for thb diversion of any part of the relief funds for whiter work to subsidising mining prospecting parties, he would willingly, have jiiven part.of his subscription at fcho beginning to help the association's movement if the matter had ; beau then fully ventilated, and; it tha chaunel of administering the funds had been arranged in' such a way as to command public confidence.; . ■''•"

The Chaikman eaid the splendid attendance there that night was evidence that those present sympathised very deeply with the movement that was, now in progreaf, and it was very gratifying to those who had the matter in hand to tee the hall so well filled. It augured well for the movement thut there sbonlri be fetich an attendance. It, at *uy rate, indicated that the movement had the oympathy of the audience, and he hoped that it had more than that—that they would e?ince their sympathy in a practical manner by enabling those who had rftkeo ths matter in hand to carry it to a (successful issue.—(Applause.) Of course the movement was ono which involved great responsibilities upou its promoters ; and they did not tail to recognise that. They were quite) aware' that, it was beaei; with difficulties. They had not failed to recognise that they had an arduous task before them, even, if they met with a loi-gp meaßure of support from the public, because they had many tilings to guard &Raiust. They believed, however, that the support the public would give them would-be of such a nature that it would warrant them in devoting their beet energies to the promotion of the bcbense which bad tor its object the permanent settlement of a large number of unemployed en the guldficlda of OUgo.i Nothing could be more disheartening, not only to those who were out of employment, bus to those, who had any manly instincts, to see a large number of their fellowcreatures unable to obtain work in order to support the families which iv many instance? were dependent upon them. Now while tboeo who had promoted (his scheme, for settling the unemployed on th« goldfields of Otago thonpht that the Relief Committee,' in reluming them any monetary assistance, bad not quite done their duty to tbu subscribers—(applauss)— they at the same tima did not wish to bn considered in ai,y way antagonistic to that committee — (Hear, hear.) He for one was in the deepest sympathy with the committeo. He thought they had made / a mistake m refusing the promoters of the goldtields project the sympathy'they asked,' but he did not altogether blame them., They were representative business, commercial, and professional men in this community. They were probably among the' very pick ot our b»st citizens, and their combined wisdom'had Jed them to bolievo that they Were - uot justified in voting the funds that -were entrusted to their keeping. He hoped all present would differ, with.them; and :f they differed trom - ; them .in aVreasonable ispirifcthe^ Relief Committee would pethaps'reconsider their determination and would: grant the .Minera' Association some of the money which had been already subscribed. If.. thercommitfee did that' it would give the prorhotetß 65/ithe mining project some heart ;to go forward-with their uuder■takiDg.—(Applause.) - Thcjre>' was only ■ ons point on which he Warned ;the committee, and that was thig: Before they arrived at a resolution which was caloulatedtdinjurethel scheme i lii progress they ought to havetalren a vote of the subscribers to the relief: fuud;--(ADplanse V He» did not think ,that the: committee need take the : least • offence if' the meeting that night determined -.that* ' that wai the; course they ought ito have adopted before flatly refusing :to devote aiiy'fnrida to a echeme which, had: the best Vppsdble bbieot-an °SJ e°t?tyoh';woalfrelieve; thecommittee from | large artonnfoTits.resiionaibllifcy; When the funds; which Wd been so generously subscribed by the public of ;Dunedin were eshoustad ,011 the relief works wbati wa? to'become of -the 300 or/400 were now: being; cared for? Ihey-would then -be in no better.position than they were .before. would, be tided over the winter, but when the funds' were exkausted what was :to become of those'men ? They could not be. provided WitH work in' the city, jano^ ifc^wos in the world that those whb haaVtaken this; gbldfields scheme . in; hand should ;* bring -it before - a public meeting ;,in the, hope that" the meeting wonldhelp them, to bring it to a successful issue, and also in the,- hope that the' mating would .bjr. their ;TOte^induce,.the\Relief' Fund Committee to re o oßsicler,4heir-decision rand torwardithe movement by a substantial dona-tion.-(Applause.) ■ Speaking; for' bimgalf,. be .was a_ firm believer > in, the goldfidds scheme, and it_ it only goj; a.;, fair -chunce it would succeed; m a way that would" surprise a goocr many, of those.who were :at present doubters.-,(Appl anß eo They had only to look to the sister colony of NewiSouth Wales and to one or two .of the .other Australian colonies to see that *chemes similar to the present' one had met, wrth most gratifying success.'--At the close **% ■ y l Tnftn e'®-f Ument' of • New South Wales sent ,10,000 people from Sydney, to the gold-' flelos m the ■interior.. The result hid been that; a very large proportion oil - that number had nßd,on the goldfieldß, arid what was more significant still,-the; goldfields-had produced about tw)cevthe quantity,of, gold during the last year than wai, produced during the preceding year. He did: not think^that was Hkogether due to the large number of men who bad;beeu sent on to.the goldfield H from Sydney • but he believed that, the result was in some measure; attnbutable .to the -fact that a considerable prpportion of the :meh had remained on the goldfields, and had there found remunerative employment. .And that was Confirmed by the^ warden's reports. , Now,if the acnemein N^y South Wales been *: success, be did no^ see why^the B ch E me they had in view here f,hould not be made a similar success; It was not proposed to enter that night into the merits fc m VieW" ■Jt was that all. tbosa _who were present had a deep aympatty with the movement. The promoter* were . satisfied tbat they had laid down reasonable I:lines for carrying on the scheme, and they ( hoped the speakers that night w6uld give them I I? "ao^ C 9 lal ? u PP°rb--(Applau ß e.) , Mr_A Lorie Ba .d that the kindly reception I accorded him showed that he had not made, as I he had been told, be-had, a ,g reat misU^ .^ moving m this matter. A good many of those Present were aware whaV had been done since the first meeting on July 8, but perhaps none or them were aware that that was not the beginning of the movement. The first time I that it occurred to him that something might bo. done of a more permanent character than Birnply putting men on work that could no' last very long was when he was asked for asubscription. He then said that he wouH be pleased to give a few pounds towards "the movement, but he would be better pleased to donate a great many more pounds if work was found of such a character as would prevent a recurrence of tbe difficulty. He was told that the committee would gladly enter h;to such a proposition if some feasible pl' Bn were presented to ' them. Ho conversed with a great number of people, al »d found that timber -catting, briKkKlakin!< and many other things - that he thought of, clashed with vested interests, end was otherwise surrounded •.. with difficulty until mining seemed to be the only fitkl left open that gave promise of success. Acting on suggestions, he ascertained the opinions of various mining experts. He asked specially that they ehould give the matter the moat careful consideration, and by no means to give one side of tbe case. The replies receivtd wero so very encouraging that after consultation with Mr Fenvrick it was decided to call-a mue-tii.g \ n Dunedin. The meeting was held oil July g, and a. provisional committee was formed. Toe latter met at the close of the meeting, and after examining several miners it was resolved to pursue the mutter still further. A subsequent meeting was hald, and resolutions were T'asßtfl pronouncing the scheme to be practicable; that there was plenty of ground available for tbe purpose; and calling on the Relief Committee to anaist. The tbing having gone so far it was deemed advisable to call in the assistance of some of the leading business men, with the result thatimportantacceffiiouswere roadeto ths ranks of those who were carrying on the movement ; and it was decided, having failed to get the assistance of the Relief Committee, to go to the public. He (the speaker) hid been of opinion that they should not delay in holding the public meeting, as ho knewthafc'the committee did not sympathise with tlie project. ,They upproaebed the committee, as those present knew, and the reply wa( , unsatisfactory. Some of th« poromittee of the Miners' Association were in consequence greatly disheartened, and thought that without tht» assistance of the Relief Committee it was useless proceeding. Fortunately,

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others—and tbe speaker was amongst the number—differed from that view, and res-olved tbat, with the help of thu committee or not and even without help from the .Government,' they should proceed with the matter they had in hand.—(Applause.) It might be that they would fail, but he contended that to try and fail, was better than not to try at all. (Applause.) The large afctendaucs! that eveuiug proved that in this they had acted rightly, and he believed that the results of their efforts would be such that they need not be ashamed of. The speaker then went on to state what was proposed to bo done. To begin with he wished to state that the committee had had tha very able assistance of Messrß Stout, Mondy, and Sim, so that nothing was done that was not strictly in accordance with the law. It was uot their intention to enter into speculative mining, but they believed tbat there was plenty Of ground on which they could put men who would be satisfied with small results. Ttie first step they intended to take was to get the very best men as leaders of the different parties. They knew it was of no use sending men out by: themselves who had no knowledge of raining, therefore they deemed it of great importance to exercise care in selecting the leaders. They proposed to lend each man a complete outfit, so that he would not go. on to the goldfield handicapped in any way. They, furthermore, did not propose to send any parties on to the Beld without at least 12 weeks' supplies. The relation, between the man and the association would be that of master and man. Nobody would be selected to lead a party without possessing the fullest qualifications, and tha selection of each party would be left to the leaders! The latter would have the power to diamiss any man who was insubordinate or who woald uot work— (applause))l—and the whole of the gold won would be the absolute property of the association. It was not intended to make the matter a money-makiDg concern, but to make iii permanent, and in /order to do this it was ntce.isa.ry to take care of the pennies at first;, bub ultimately, when the thing was faitly f. tarted, he thought it would be possible to »ay to the men, "Here, you will repay for your tucker, and the gold is your own." The movement, therefore, it was hoped would afford permanent relief forthe unemployed difficulty.

Mr H. Fj Haedt said that after the able ovesches of the chairman and; Mr Lorie ■he thought tbat all present would endorse the resolution he had to propose. The presence of a large number of unemployed on the streets was' a painful sight, and nothing too much could be said in praise'of those who bad devoted their time and money in ameliorating the condition of the men out of ;work.; At tha same time they would all admit that when the works at present in hand were finished the men would, be cd the streets again, unless some schema was effected whereby they were put in the way of earning their own living. It would be better than granting them dolea as at present., Per-, soually he thought that if they could tab a'lot, of men on the goldfields under the. charge of experienced miners it would be a good, thing.' They would learn to .do someting useful, towhich they could turn at any time of their; lives. The motion that-he had to propose; was—"That this meeting having heard the; object cf the Otago Miners'- Association thoroughly approves of the same, and pledges itself to suppoit it."—(Applause.) - Not only was the sympathy of those present required, but their support was also asked for. They would admit that the .position of those who would come under the management of the association would be better than that of the diggers in the early days. He was not; possessed; of much experience as-a miner, but he knew' that there was a great quantity of auriferous laud in Ofcago, besides : quantities-of t&ilings ■which.; could be profitably worked. If they could settle three out o( 10 ou the golufleldn it would befar better than that the men should be. allowed .to hang about the town.— (Applause.) '. The Rev. Mr North seconded the resolution", and in doicg bo said that he thought.it right that those who were present on that occasion should recog/jjse in a generous manner the work that was being done in connection with the relief :of the unemployed.; The committee were deserving of the heartiest thanks of all the members, of thia : ., community. The way in which they had evoked the generosity of the people was a matter for gratulatioh all round. .They all recognised that 'the employment of. men to beautify, the city and Burrpundings was a commendable thing: He thought1 they-all agreed;indeed that Mr Batbgate and the society with which he was connected had donetnuch to the advantage of the tosvn.—(Applause.)- They were not inclined to criticise the Relief Committee in any way except in relation to its one psuticular act in refusing to devote any of its funds in the direction of that particular movement. He thought with the chairman that in this they had made a mistake, and hia impression was that the voice of that meeting would ,be influential in convincing- them of that mistake. He understood that the! ground on. which they based their refusal was that the funds were subscribed solely for the purpose df' their:being expended in and around the city! His impression was in that they had made;a mistake. He thought most of them who subscribed trusted to the committee, and were not afc all concerned aa to where the money was to be spent.—(Applauss.) Their first desire was to help their brothers in misfortune, and' if it could be found by the ministration of the money that: permaneut assistance could be rendered them they would bo air the more glad.—(Applause.) He could only hope that the asseciation would be eminently successful, that it would be, a permanent institution, and that it would afford, a new start to many of their fellow-citizens. ~ ..,.. , :.

Mr D. .Nicol said he had nob yet subscribed to ,the Miners' Association fund, but he! intended toidoao.—(Applause.) |He had beeniabout .40 years in Ofcago, and he did.not think that this season of the year was suitable for mining, projects in. many parts of the province. There were, however, other parts where mining could be carried on, and he warned the committee to be careful and not-spend'a great portion of their money in sending people here, there, and everywhere over Otago. He hoped that they would be judicious in finding out localities: that would prove '.'beneficial not only for the men, but also for the association^ — (Hear, hear^j The Rev..'Mr Harbison.-stated that whea t&e question of finding work, for the unemployed was being discussed in the city he had an idea that a factory might be established ; bnt after thinking-that over he came to the conclusion that snch a project would clash with other people's interests, and'when he read the reports of the Miners' Association meeting it occurred to him that here was the solution of the problem thai he had been thinking about. It might be a Bohition of the unemployed difficulty to settle the people on the land, but they would require to be kept for two or-three years before there vjould b8 any return for their labour.. He therefore thought that the proposal to send men on to the goWflelds was the fcsst one under the circumstances/ and he Bhould do all that lay in his power to help those who had taken this matter in haisd.— (Applause.)

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

Mr J. Ryley said when Mr Lorie spoke to bim-about this movement he told him it bad his hearty sympathy, and would have his hearty co-operation. Ifc commended ifcaetf to his judgment at once. He had already subscribed to the relief fond simply to relieve the present: distress, but if he had known that such a project as the present one was coming forward he would have divided his subscription.—(Applause.) While he heartily approved of philanthropy, the Christian feeling, and the good judgment of fhose who initiated the relief works, yet: he thought that they would have been acting properly and in a right spirit if they had given £500 to start a movement of the present kind.—(Applause.) They must all see at a glance that the relief works could not be' of permanent value to the working classes. Nezt winter we might have the same state of matters presented to m if nothing else were done tor the unemployed ; but an association like the Miners' Association would confer a permanent benefit on individual men by helpiDg them to help themselves. The mining industry would afford a grand training to many men. Mining at present was nearly a Ecieuce and required training and experience, and a man who was employed for 12 months under this association, if ho had'any aptitude, or any degree of intelligence and wished to learn, he would he able to strike out and make a living tor himself. He believed that the mining; industry was one of the mainstays of New Zealand— (appl&uee),—and that it was aimply on the eve of a great development. He had been over a great portion of the goldfields of Otago, and he believed there was room for 1000 men on these goldfields—(applause), aiid if their industry and energy were only wisely directed, they would make comfortable livings for themselves. He believed in the present movement because it was brotherly because it was philanthropic. It had no selfishness in it, and therefore he would throw his whole heart and soul into the movement — (Applause.) He would tell them what he had resolved upon. He had reaolved that he himselt should raise £100 within the next three months.—(Loud applause.) Knowing a great many miners up-country, he believed they were men l!;n kind hearts, and men with sympathy, and that wfceu a . case o f tn j s ujnd waß presented •?_, em airly they would henrtiiy respond to •i, P!" auseo At any rate, whatever be mignt be able to collect, if there was a deficiency as was prepared to make it up.—(Applause.) ~t,- neVer vUited *ac goldfie'.ds without coming awiy V 7ith a fresh conviction of the ntioiom and indomitable courage of the ■SdT" of qtago.-(Applanw.) He proCmlnr7 r. rof<- >r fc° instances of their courage in -nd swd .that we were under great obligations to

*"*—"rni*"l *""-'rffl*iitri*rwiwn M n __ them for what they had done, and nbould cherish their memory. Ha moved—" That this meeting, being satisfied that thß Otapo Miners' Association is formed purely from philanthropic motives, strongly urges the Government to grant the trustees a subsidy of 21s for every pound Bubsotibed, ss it considers that thehelp proposed to bs afforded to prospecting by. the mining regulations, wns not intended to apply to philanthropic efforts of this nature." He unciecnlood that' communication had already bcfcn opened up with thwI'Governmentl, and that there Bcemed to be a difficulty standing iB the way. He had no donbt, however, that the Government would find ways and means of getting over that difficolty. He was thoroughly convinced that they had the Government with them in this movement, and that the Government were ready to help the meu who were in need of help, and that they would find some means to grout this 24s subsidy for every pound -subscribed for the present object, tttfertnee had Iweu made to settling people on the land. He thoroughly believed in that- ; in fact, his policy was ahead of the policy of'most, of our politicians. He believed that every man with a family should get 300 acres free of. all charge for, say, fave years.—(Applause;) /Jbat was his policy, but it seemed impracticable at the present time, and it was nonsense to settle meu on the land unless they had Home means, of helping them to cultivate it, aud make the land remunerative. Well, this association would do that: A man who was successful in connection with this niovemeut might in a/few years Bave a few hundred pounds." and then let him settle upon the land; That was what a great many miners had already done. Those of them who intended to embark in this scheme, if they went forward hopefully,, iijd heartily, determined that uo obstacle would, daunt them, and that if. sucaeEs were possible they would secure it—if they set to work with that spirit he was bound to say that they would succeed.— (Applause.)

Mr A. S. Adams secoudenl the motion. Such a scheme as had been brought' foi-ward bad his very hearty sympathy, and he' thought that the community owed a great debt of gratitude to Mr Lorie and Mr Fen wick for bringing it forward. Such a scheme was^ deserving of support and encouragement,' and ho had a very great deal of confidence: in seconding the motion, which asked tbe ; Government to extend special induceuieritr. to the promoters of the scheme in ord^r.that' thsy might be enabled to carry it out to a. successful issue. The scheme was more than philanthropic; it was an etninently practical aud wise scheme, and should commend iteelf to every man who exercised bis judgment upon the matter. What was.the greatest difficulty,of our present civilisation ? It vras the: unemployed difficulty. That difficulty very.largely owed its existence to the fact; that men crowded into the cities rather than spread themselves throughout the .country; He did not wish, to Bayfa siugle word against the work don^ by the Relief Association, but the scheme of tho Miners' Association was a very much better one, as it meant sending out men irom.ther congested centres of population into;the.couritry where they might have opportunities; of .doing well for themselves and establiehipg .themselves in permanrht homes. '''"■ '• '■": ■■ ■• ■ ■•■, ';:: .•■ ■ ■■"■•".

Mr S. N. Bhown tfcought that the motion was not put strongly enough, and that the Government should not be approached in a spirit of appeal, but ajmost a spirit of' demand in a matter of this kihd^— (Hear, hear.) The time' was when the Government very cheeif ully gave, he thought, £2 for every £1 Bubseribed by proS,pectnng ussociations. throughout}. ,Ot»go for the purpose:' of developing the mineral resources; of the province. If; they,: did that in the past, whyy 'should they not do the same_ thicg now? -H«{ trusted ' that this association would not be a temporary thing, but that it would ;. be; carried !qa'v'for all, time, because, as a matter of fact, the minirjg districts of Otago'have not been, developed at all epeaking comparatively. He went; on to suggest that the association- .should turn its atteution to proßpcctiog for deep leads, ajid pointed out that there -were a number of likely places for gold \ip be found, and that if some deep leads were disebvered they would afford permanent employment, for men and a good return for their labour. //.

motion qri being pufc was carried unaniiriously. "■' .' ■;■'■ :'■' ■ ' '\':'\"v '■. ■' [

The'Chaibjian moved—MTHat this meeting regret that the* Relief Committee has declined to aesift the Miner^ 'Awcciation, and atrpngly urge^thati tho matter.;b,s reconsidered." He thought it was neceisarj to propose this motion, ub he believed that a' representation coming from such a vast meeting aR that would have some effect upon. the,' commict* c, and would wacriiut .them in altering their dteision. He had personally discussed this; matter with a great many members of tbe committee, and there wag no ill-will or, hostility to the presenV movement on their part. lltost of them agreed .that the project the Miners' Association had xin hand was ,an admirable one. It ; that were: io, it. was very difficult *°.',-',s^S' what could have - them1 to decline to give; the present project their assistance. He did not believe for one moment that one out of five of tbe subscribers to the relief fund had given their subscriptions with the express understanding that the money should be devoted fco: works in and around the city alone. He was sure that if they could get the subscribers to that fund into a hall it would be found that nine out of 10, at any rate, were perfectly willing that some portion of the fund should be devoted to- the carrying out of the project 'before the meeting : "that- night — (Applause.) ;..■■■.■-■■ .-..■■■.

__The Rev B?r Reaby; seconded the -motion: He believed that the Relief Committee were actuated by as pure motives; as those who brought forward the present project, but while the promoters of tile-Miners-Association were agitating for putting men ont the goldfields the cheques and the,collections from the churches were coaiing into the committee, and the result was that the latter association somewhat Bcooped ■ the pool.; Now, :it was1 necessary for . the Miners' Association to tell them plaioly that the scheme they proposed was the more honourable and the more manly of the two; and as thty believed in the survival of thefittest the Relief Association oueht to help them. The Relief Association should reconsider their; resolution because the present scheme would give permanent employment if success were wherein the "work at .pieaent beings carried on in the city would become exhausted and matters would be as they were before. He: mentionedthat he knew of men who were making at. Manuka Creek at the present time an average of 55.6 d a day, and it' they could put men on the goldfields he thoupht they would be able t^> earn a fair wage for themselves besides giving those who stayed in the city a chance of doing the same thiug. The motion on being' put was carried unanimously/ ': , / "; ;; ; ■■■ ■'

Mr Tolchek moved— "That, this meeting strongly urges the Government to take steps to acquire such freehold land as may by proved to be auriferous." Innpesking to the motion he said that there was much freehold land in Otago which was known to :be auriferous but that miners could not get access to it at the present time.

Mr Cheistian seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. '

Mr Lokie moved—"That a cordial vote of thanks be'sccorded to ; Messrs Barr, Leary, and Co. for their great generosity in granting the use of the Chamber of Commerce to the association free of payment, to tbe trustees of the Garrison Hall for the use of the hall that night without charge, to Mr RoberSsbaw, who gratuitously ''supplied music that evening, and to Mr Mills, 'who had offered to take any photographs for the association that were necessary without charging for them." The motion was carried by acclamation.v On the motion of Mr Simon,.seconded by Mr A. S. Adams, a. cordial vote of - thanks was also accorded to^ Messrs Lorie and Penwick for bringing forward the scheme to send men on to the goldfields. The meeting then terminated.

The following subscriptions to the funds of the association have been received up to date : Messrs A; Lorie and Co.; £25; A. S. Paterson, £10 10i; John Mit*liell, £5 ss; J. and J. Arthur, £2 2s ;H.F. Hardy, £2 2s ; Simon Bros., £1 Is; J. P. Armstrong, £5; G. Feu wick, £3 3s ; J. Connor (Glasgow Restaurant), £10 ; John Sidey, £5;. Speight and C 0.," £5 ; Thomas Psterson and Co ,£1 Is ; eraployees of C. and J. Coombs, £2 5s ; A. Miller, stores of' the value of £5; D.-Nicol, £1 Is;— Total, £83 10s.

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