THE TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13874, 11 April 1907, Page 2

THE TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Sm,—Kindly permit me to draw attention" to a letter which appeared in tho Otago Daily Times of May 2, 1906. My remarks in that issue were directed against tho conference then sitting in Christcliuroh: "The Trades and Labour Council is responsible for tho unrest and want of unanimity between the employer and employed." I am sorry to sec. that what happened then has repeated itself in Duncdin. Tho conference camo hero only for its annual holiday, and to rehearse tho annual impudence—impudence of speech, of mind, of manners—against everybody, including Ministers and members of the Legislative Council raised from the ranks of Labour. In order .to further their own interests they have suddenly taken a fancy into their heads that (hey must protect the "poor Working man" by pretending to further his interests; I think it is Victor Hugo that 6ays: "Everyone for himsslf; interest is the motive of all men." If the council really is very anxious for the Labour world to believe that it is perfectly disinterested,- and is _ wishing to do 'Roo'd for tile sake of doing good, it should proceed to have somo legislation passed—(l) Fixing the hours of labour at eight, hours, without overtime, so ii« "to_ absorb all surplus labour; (2) fixing a- minimum wage at Is per hour; (3) examining all- who have completed their apprenticeship, and tho issue of certificates by :i board of examiners, to show that, they have been properly taught, their various trades; (4) if preference to unionists is tho council's desire, then the law should compel the secretaries of each and every union to contribute half of Ihe moneys levied by the unions into a national fund for old-age pensions, instead of using such funds to pay agitators, whoso desire- is to rido on tho backs of Labour into snujr little nositione. Therefore, every bov and trirl, from the time ho or she is 16. should be taught to bo thrifty and to realise the fact that they have a duty to perform in providing for old_ age, and that by pnving into any society or union thov would bo helniii<r. to create a pension of their own whereby their comforts would l>e augmented, their respectability increased, and that they would be making their social position richer and more independent. Mr W. E. Gladstone once said: " Cultivate self-help; do not seek or like to.be always dependent upon others fnr what you can yourself supnlv." The Trades and Labour Council of New Zcciwl has great responsibilities lo Jmir. and should not treat those responsibilities roncorninft the betterment of the people lightly or flippantly.—l am, etc., St. David,