AN ATTACK ON PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES. (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 6

AN ATTACK ON PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES. (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wbllington, March 20. , At a meeting of the Trades and Labour Council»letter was received from the Federated Seamen*! Union soliciting the aupport of the council in the direction of assisting them, by any means they might deem expedient, to abolish those private benefit societies instituted by employers, where employment was conditional only on accepting membership in (ocieties of this nature, vhich were becoming so numerous as to seriously menace the interests and liberty of the wage-earners generally. Most of these societies, the letter stated, were established ostensibly for philanthropic purpoaes, bat experience had shown that the majority of them, were ; merely thinly disguised capitalistic devices to keep, the wageearners in: subjection and to more effectually bend them to the wishes of the emplojers. Members of the union felt themselves sorely oppressed in being compelled to contribute to the society incepted by the Union Steam Ship Company some yeais, ago.. The rules of this Society were arbitrary in the extreme, and clearly showed the reasons for bringing the society into, existence. No changes could be effected in the* constitution without the consent of the company, and they further insisted that no person in their employ should be a member of »ny\union which ths company do not recognise. .With the reign of terror now exercised over them members dared not raise their voices igainst this tyranny, and they now looked to the LegieUtiire to grant them relief. The union were of opinion that if sufficient pressure could be brought to bear the Government might be induced to include such a measure in their policy'next session which would materially enhance, it' prospects when it reached the "Legislative Council. The letter was referred to the: conference. The .half-yearly report showed that the council had done good work. Prom the balance sheet it appeared that the finances were in a sound condition. Mr H. C. Jones was're-elected president, and Mr R. E. Vaney secretary.