THE HARVESTER TRUST'S METHODS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13387, 13 September 1905, Page 2

THE HARVESTER TRUST'S METHODS.

PROTEST BY REID AND' GRAY'S . EMPLOYEES. ' /. PARLIAMENT LIKELy TO BE APPROAOHED.

A mooting made up of pretty well the full oomplement of Mossra Reid and Gray's employees was held on the firm's premises at mid-day yesterday, the object of the meeting being, to take some action in respect to the American Harvester Trust's attitude with regard to the implement manufacturing industry of the colony. • Mr J. Garratt,' who was voted to the f/ in sotting forth tho purpose of tlio meeting, said:— ■> ' ■ This meeting has been called so that wo pan enter our emphatio jirotesfc against tho International Harvester Trust,' or any such combination of oapita!.-(Anplaiiso.) As it, is well said, a trust has neither a body to be Kicked nor a soul to be damned. As jou may know, this trust that wo are up in arms against comprises the Deoring, MCormick, Piano, Milwaukee, Champion, and Osborne binder companies, with a oapital about- 30' millions.—(A Voice: "Dollars?"). No, not dollars, but 30 millions sterling. And now they are going in for a lull line of agricultural implements Last year tlioy started:operations' in.Now Zealand, and they arc prepared to lose money for some years, and as a matter of fact, tho Australian manager says if he can show 2i per cent, after six years ho will lie satisfied. Aow, I ask you if that is fair to.'the employers who liavo built up n biisine. ; s— i ,!~ or V 3 > as employees, who aro depending on them for our livelihood?(Renewed cries 0 t "No.") Wo need not bo surprised when we know that our firms have dropped manufacturing some lines and taken to handling American goods, as it pays best. \\e all know tlicy are in business to male money, and not front philanthropic motives. I ask you in all seriousness if we should allow that sort of thing to eontinuo without raising our voiccs against it? And to do so effectively I want you (o appoint a delegate to represent, us in Christchurch to-morrow night at a mm mooting called by the agricultural employees to protest against, these .methods, and to passaresolution, fo:.that it can be laid before Parliament—(Applause.) Mr T. Ualton, called on to move. I lie first lesolution, said that it gavo him much pleasure to seo the workers rising to the occasion. It was necessary, to do something. —(Hear, hear.) Maybe all present had not read a great deal about American trusts, but all had heard sufficient to know that if such (rusts Iweame firmly established in this colony tho result would ho i:o very seriouslv affect the men who worked for'Reid anil Gray and the workers of llio whole colony,—(Applause.) It was the duty of the workers to prevent tliis trust from getting a foothold in New Zealand, and certainly advisal'lo to have Reid ami Gray represented at the.Christchurch meetim;, this being olio of the most, important .agricultural implement firms in the colony. If this trust once got. started here, the local firms could not compete. Were the men goinir to allow this to come about-?—("No fear.'.') It, would simply mean that the men.who had e.erved tlioii time in Now /cnlnnd would have to go out. Tt would be taking Ibo bread out of the mouths of their wives and families !o satisfy ihese American multimillionaires — (Applause.) If the trust came here, nolliine would In iM.mifacturcd in. the colony. Already the New, Zealand workmen had insulted by told ihat they could not turn out certain work in the colony. The representative of the. trust said that they did not. want to push out local industries hut, instead, wanted to help tliem. Could tlw workers here swallow lliat?— (V0i033: "Very likely.") He said that nn order for n dozen rapo and turnip Eoivers had to be sent back, and as much as said that the men here could not-undertake such work! AVliat nonsense, when everybody know that. Reid cud Gray could turn out a plough that W W' !v> lieaten in the v.-orM.—("Hear, ' ' '^ Ie trust man also sa'd that because Iniiigh co'ild not bo ni(ul;> hero tlioy hod to be «ent to America for; but he rave : lutnsclf badly away theio.—(Applause.) What lie said, however; showed that if tlio thin end of the wedge could be got in. everything would bo sent away for. Tho only thing tlio, workers hero could do was to appeal to the Government for assistance, i /tt S ' -ll' 1 ] " la '' " lc Government would. ..'L. J! '?") ? urc > respond. Since King Dirk ' had been in power he had '/u tt "at l,n omi '' l for 1,10 workers.— ( Hear, hear.") If the worker;, stood at the 1 remicr s back he would f.tand firmly by them—(applause)—and lio was. tlio only man who could do anything to counteract the trusts—(Applause.) If this trust wero not stopped it would end by faking tho money out of tho country that now wont to support the formers, so it would bo far bettor for the farmers- to pav even a little more, if necessary, for their implements. and so keen (he people at work hero.— (Applaiifc.) At tlio same time lie (Mr Dalton) was .prepared to say that this would not hapjMm; Tho makers would not raise their prices if there'was a heavy duty put on imported implements. Ho'concluded by moving that, the meeting appoint a delcgato to go to Christchurch to represent tlio firm to which they belonged. Mr W: seconded the motion, which Wfi6 carried unanimously amid applauso.

Mr E Tiirloy proposer] I hat the men should ilicm?.olves' subscribe tho delegate's expenses, thus showing in a nraetieal manner that they wero in sympathy will) the opposition to the trust, ami realised what a mischief it might Income. Besides, it would be as well that their delegate should strictly represent the men, and not tho firm. ,A shilling nil round would do it. It was resolved to rate everyone receiving 6s a day and over at Is each, and tho ones Mow that at 6d.

Three names were proposed when it. came to the question of appointing a delegate and a ballot being taken Mr T. 11. Dalton scoured a majority of votes, and was accordingly elected the employees' delegate Mr V. Cameron then moved, and Mr D. Jlelvilo seconded, the following resolution — »fl, tho undersigned employees of Hold and (iray, implement manufactures, Dunedm. desire to express our protest, against tho Harvester Trust methods lieing introduced into New Zealand, and now elect -ill 1. ii. Ballon as our delegate to represent us at the meeting to' lw held in Christchurch on. Modnosday evening, when w> liope some ,action will be-decided upon to bring this matter befoni Parliament, with a view of encouraging the manufacture of implements in the colony." Tn moving fhi.s resolution, Mr Cameron said ho considered this matter was one that directly affected working moil. Employers would sooner manufacture than import but it was being made impossible to m'anulacluro and compete against American imporhitions. _ Many choap farm implement s ? were now imported that in »ast years had been manufactured locally, n'ncl it behoved all working men to stir themselves and thus safeguard tlioir own iiUorw.'.s. The interests of the farmers were to bo safenuarc'fld and protected by the local factoric? whirf, M'ere willing to guarantee tlmt, in the event of protection being given, tho present priec* would not bo raised. Mr Cameron advis-d tlio_carryimr of this resolution, and the signing of the notitioil wliieh would give tliw deleeate somo authority to act upon. JLhe motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to Mr Garralt for preAiding concluded tho meeting.