A NOTABLE RECORD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 9

A NOTABLE RECORD

TAILORESSES' UNION FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY JUBILEE BANQUET Marking as it did the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the first organisation of female workers in New Zealand, the jubilee banquet held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night by the Dunedin Tailoresses Union, to celebrate the fiftieth year of its existence, was an event of more than passing importance in the industrial history of the Dominion. Evidence that this fact was appreciated by the members was to be found in the large attendance, over 700 seats at the tables being occupied. Mr J. T. Paul, president of the union, which office he has occupied since 190 d. was chairman, and associated with him on the platform were the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen). Mr M Connelly. M.L.C Mrs W. N. Benson, president of the National Council of Women. Miss M Benfell, vice-president of the union, and Miss J. Runciman, who, for the past 31 years, has been tne secretary of the union. There were also present representatives of the various trades and labour organisations in the city Prime Minister’s Message

After extending a welcome to those present, Mr Paul read messages of congratulation from the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) the Postmastergeneral (Mr F. Jones), and the Minister of Health (Mr P. Fraser), as well as from a number of other well-wishers

The Prime Minister, in his message expressed regret at his inability to attend the function, and said that this regret was all the deeper because of the fact that he knew of no industrial union in New Zealand, or. indeed anywhere else, which deserved the same measure of heartv congratulations as the Dunedin Tailoresses’ Union. It was the pioneer union in this country in the hard fight for the emancipation of women workers against deplorable industrial conditions

“ One has reason to doubt,' Mr Savage wrote, “whether the women workers of to-day realise how much they owe to the pioneer industrial unionists in the tailoring and clothing trade of Dunedin, and also to the broad-minded humanitarian citizens who supported them against a ruthless system of exploitation. I feel sure that if they did realise the debt of honour to pioneer campaigners they would support me from their hearts in congratulating the Dunedin Tailoresses’ Union on its jubilee. Another essential worth considering is the necessity for maintaining the spirit and strength of unionism. Any relaxation of vigilance and constructive effort means the provision of opportunity for the cutting down of gains achieved in half a century. With such a fine record of accomplishment. I feel sure that the members of the Dunedin Tailoresses’ Union will hold fast to traditional principles.” Fifty Years Ago His first acknowledgment that night, said Mr Paul, should be to the men and women who had passed on—to those whose courage and foresight contributed to the satisfactory condition in which tailoresses found themselves as compared with 50 years ago. The passage of time had thinned the ranks, and when he harked back only as far as their twenty-first birthday celebration 29 years ago. he could not forget that of the four speakers who took part in that large meeting he alone remained. Dr Waddell, Sir George Fenwick, and Mr Alex Bathgate had joined the great majority, full of years and honoured by their fellow-men. He proposed, said Mr Paul, to make some contrasts which appeared to him to be striking as well as interesting. Fifty years ago that night, -300 people met to consider the formation of a trade union to fight for better conditions for tailoresses. He said fight, and he meant that. Every other method had failed. Dr (then the Rev.) Waddell had preached a sermon on “ The Sin of Cheapness” and sweating had been publicly discovered. It had really become an institution—its victims were numbered in hundreds. Prior to that historic meeting in the Choral Hall, every method to remove the evil had been tried. The iniquity of the practice had been emphasised by prominent citizens. Those who controlled the price were pleaded with. Some were anxious to remedy the evil, some were nowerless to act, while a few held that if they could get work dpne at starvation prices they were entitled to do so History had given more than one lesson with regard to women’s place: it had shown that it was imperative that women could not be injured physically or morally without race deterioration. So to-daj. even more than yesterday, industrial conditions were important because of the increasing numbers of women engaged in industry. Those old conditions, moreover, injured women and consequently were dangerous to good citizenship For that reason, so many prominent men and women helped the tailoresses in those far-off days, and for that reason, too, the tailoresses themselves to-day realised the importance of protecting and perfecting their working conditions and wages. In those bad old days women worked literally “ all hours for less than apprentices received toTwo points in connection with trades unionism in this industry should be stressed, Mr Paul said. Time had proved that it was not only necessary but it had been beneficial. The clothing trade could not have been carried on under decent conditions without it. and experience had shown it to be necessary to protect the wprkers and fair employers against unfair employers. In industry it was not infrequently the less scrupulous employers and traders who set the standard, and trades unionism had endeavoured to correct that. Mr Paul concluded by referring to present-day There were four important points in that connection. he said. These were the 40-hour working week, paid holidays, compulsory unionism, and fair wages They stood together, and were all-important. There had been criticism of compulsory unionism, but he considered it was a logical and necessary part of compulsory arbitration. There were not many people to-day who would desire the reneal of compulsory arbitration and return to strikes and lock-outs A Determined Fight

Mr Connelly congratulated the union on having attained its fiftieth birthday, and said that its history pointed to the determination and tenacity of the women who in days gone by had, in the face of strong opposition, striven for what they considered to be their rights. As far back as 1873, aMr Bradshaw. at that time member of Parliament for Dunedin was successful in piloting through the House the first Female Unemployment Bill, but this subsequently met with bitter opposition and some of its most important clauses were repealed. There followed the Shops and Offices Bill, which provided for a 52-hour week and a minimum wage of 5s per week, with an annual increment of 3s weekly. From this it could be seen that in the intervening years industrial legislation had made wonderful strides.

Unfortunately, in those early years, women did not have a franchise, but in 1893 Mr R. J. Seddon introduced the Women’s Franchise Bill, which was subsequently passed by both Houses. Mr Connelly said Eighteen members of the Legislature however presented a petition ot the Governor protesting against the Bill, but over 3000 women presented a counter-petition, and finally franchise for women became law In the past 50 years radical changes had taken place in industry, and the speeding up of manufacture was taking a deadly toll of the workers. Such human waste could not be countenanced, and to give the workers time for recuperative purposes the Government had in view a proposal to bring down legislation which would allow all workers a fortnight’s holiday a year on full pay. He desired his hearers, Mr Connelly

concluded, to realise the great changes which had taken place in working conditions and to give honour to those who had been instrumental in bringing those changes about. Then and Now Further congratulations were conveyed to the union by Mrs Benson, president of the National Council of Women, who recalled working conditions of 40 years ago and compared them with those which obtained today. The amenities of the present day. she said, gave the people a fuller and much more varied life. Artificial fabrics were beginning to take the place of natural products, and as a result of this it was possible that during the next 10 years a complete reorganisation of industry might be necessary. For this reason, it behoved every woman worker to make herself adaptable. In conclusion. Mrs Benson paid a warm tribute to the work of Miss Runciman who, as secretary of the union, had given it valued service over a long period of years and to Mr Paul and the other members of the executive who had done so much to build up the union and keep it on a strong footing. Tribute to the Pioneers

The toast “ The Tailoresses’ Union ” was proposed by the Mayor, who recalled that that body was the first women’s trade union in New Zealand. Dunedin, Mr Allen said, had led the way in many philanthropic and social organisations, some of which were now 50 to 77 years of age. The birth of the union was the result of a serman preached in 1888, which caused a great hubbub in the city. Sweating conditions in the sewing trade were at that time widespread in the city, and also throughout the Dominion A Tailoresses’ Union, therefore, became a necessity, and the organisation had been such a power for good in the community that it must be maintained at all costs He believed in unionism, not only for the protection and better, ment of workers, but to protect honest and fair-minded traders against unscrupulous competitors. Again, unions provided corporate bodies with whom employers could negotiate and arrange terms and conditions fair to both. It was regrettable, the Mayor added, that unbelievable working conditions for women stained the fair name of Dunedin in the late 'eighties, but these conditions arose through lack of organisation on the part of both employers and employees. Unfair competition compelled honest traders to meet wages forced on them by greedy competitors. Therefore, those who formed these unions had bequeathed untold advantages to the workers of the present day. “It is well to remember, and pay homage,” said Mr Allen, “to the men and women who, half a century ago, fought for the betterment of conditions. for they have brought happiness into the homes of thousands of workers. Though conditions have been very bad in Dunedin, it is gratifying to know that the fight for the amelioration of the lot of workers began in this city.” Mr Allen concluded by recalling the assistance that had been given the union by Dr Rutherford Waddell, Sir George Fenwick. Mr J. A. Millar, Mr Paul and Miss Runciman, and. adding his congratulations to those of the previous speakers, expressed the hope that the union might enjoy many hapfSy returns of its birthday.

Conscientious Administrators

The toast was replied to by Miss Benfell. who said that the union was a body to which any woman might well be proud to belong, and the executive officers of the past had set the members of the present committee an exceedingly high standard to follow. To Miss Runciman the union owed more, perhaps, than many of the members realised, and her unfailing good nature, energy and willingness to help had endeared her to everyone employed in the clothing trade in Dunedin. Mr Paul also had been a tower of strength, and a debt of gratitude was due to him for the valuable advice and suppprt he had always been so willing to give. Other Toasts Other toasts honoured were “The Clothing Trade Federation ’’ (proposed by Mr P. G. Connolly and replied to by Mr A. J. Empson, vice-president of the federation); “ Otago Labour Representation Committee ” (Miss M. A. Egan—Mr A. J. McDonald): “Federation of Labour” (Mr A. Stewart—Mr D. Vorley); “ Kindred Societies ” (Mr R. Walls —representatives). Miss Runciman spoke briefly and thanked the speakers for their good wishes. , Musical Programme During the evening an enjoyable programme of musical items, arranged by Mr A. Walmsley, was presented, the following contributing:—Mr John Gordon (humorous songs). Miss Hazel Walker (songs). Messrs G. McKinlay and W. A. Finnic (duets). Part songs were also sung by the ladies’ double trio, led by Miss Mavis Macdonald. Mrs Walmsley and Miss Macdonald were the accompanists.

The gathering was brought to a close by the singing of “Auld Lang Svne.”