NEW TRADES HALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3769, 8 June 1926, Page 54

NEW TRADES HALL.

LABOUR’S CHANGED HEADQUARTERS. THE OPENING CEREMONY. On Saturday evening a large and representative gathering ot union men met in the new Trades Hall in Moray place for the opening ceremony. The proceedings took the form of a smoke concert, over which Mr K. Ferguson presided. ‘‘This is the first time in the history of the Labour movement in Dunedin that it has ever sed a freehold section—a section which I have no hesitation in saying, will increase in value as time goes on,” said the chairman, in declaring the new hall open. “Even now we could turn it over at a handsome profit, but we do not wish to do so. We want it to remain for many years as a suitable permanent home for Labour.” Continuing, he outlined the history of the movement and negotiations that have had as their fruition in the opening of the hall. As fur back as 1881, he said, a Trades Council was formed in Dunedin. It had a brief existence, and expired quietly six years later. Although it went out of existence owing to lack of interest,' in 1889 the present Otago Labour Council was formed. The early meetings had been held in the European Hotel—a custom that had now died out —but the first meeting of the new body was held in the Rattray Street Hall. That body had no home of its own, and moved about from place to place, the New Zealand Insurance Company’s building, then occupied by the Seamen's Union, being the next place of meeting. In 1894 the meetings were held in the Zealandia Chambers, and from then on till 1901 three rooms in that building were occupied. In 1901 the idea of having larger premises was conceived, and the old Moray Place Hall, on a leasehold property, was purchased for £IOOO. There the headquarters remained for 25 years. In 1914 an important change took place—the management of the Trades Hall was transferred to a Hoard of Trust, which took over the assets and liabilities from the Trades Council. The Board of Trust hud nothing whatever to do with political or industrial affairs —it knew no politics, then or afterwards, during the 12 years of its existence. The board was formed to protect the financial interests of the council as far as the hall was concerned. At that time there was no danger of the hall funds being called upon in Dunedin, but there were more militant bodies in the north, and it was thought wiser to safeguard the assets in case they were used up in other channels. A number of unions were formed that had no interest in the Trades Hall, and the Board of Trust realised that the home for labour was far too small—a number of organisations could nqt get accommodation. Rent amounting to £SO per year was being paid, and when the lease expired the rent was raised to £63. A buyer for the old hall was found, and the new building was secured under otter. After the land on which the old hall stood was made freehold, the land and building were sold for £4500, the net profit on the whole transactions being £1640. Dealing with the new building, he said, that the cost was £SBOO. It had a frontage of 31ft, a depth of 143 ft, and could be added to at any time, as it occupied only half the available ground. Now that everything had been completed there was still a "monkey” sitting on the new building, but every endeavour would be made to get a sinking fund and pay it oif as soon as possible.

The toast of "The Trades Hall Board of Trust” was proposed by Mr S. C. Brown, who said that there was a feeling at one time that it had been formed in antagonism to unions outside those associated with the council, but that was not so. It was formed to protect the interest of the Trades Council and had. as all present knew, proved a great success. Were it not for a committee of some sort, members would be still sitting in the old hall- The com mil tee had been through a trying time, particularly in regard to finance. As all who had -been associated with the labour movement knew, finance was always a pro blent. It was necessary to have sufficient finance if the work of the council and the board were to be carried on successfully, and he hoped that members would remember that. The Trades Hall was the only one in New Zealand that had not appealed to outside unions for assistance—it had stood on its dignity and had paid for everything as it went. Mr Ferguson, the present president, he 'said, was one of the first to make a move in forming the Board of Trust, and was one of the leaders in the movement to open the present hall. He had reason to be proud of the result. Tim Chairman replied and observed that a cottage would be built for a caretaker at the rear of tbp hall, and a kitchen would be installed for use at social evenings. As far as finance was concerned erei i endeavour would be made to secure all necessary revenue from the rent* of the ro«m« M to other union secretaries. Mr W. Dever also responded. Desertlierl by the chairman as the oldest member of the Labour movement in Dunedin and n man who possessed a wide knowledge of its affairs. Mr R. Slater proposed the toast of the “Trades and Labour Council.” *T have been a unionist for 03 years,” lie said. “At the beginning I was associated with miners—men for whom I have had every sympathy. All the time I *-*»vc done ail I could to improve the Labour movement generally.” Mr Slater also out lilted the history of the Labour movement in Dunedin, tracing its growth from the earliest days. In reply. Mr J. Robinson said that the splendid hall they were opening was a tribute to the men who had gone before. The Labour movement in Otago had been well laid, aud the task of those present that evening was easy—they hud only to Inti Id on the solid foundations laid by the past members. The toast of the “ Otago Labour Repre sentotion Committee ” was proposed by Mr W. H. Warren, who said that in the early ’nineties an entirely different class of man was in the movement. To-dav Labour stood as a defeated electorate, auJ the ta»dc before all was to remedy V .t state of affairs. At the present time the movement wiui devoid of all order and discipline.— (Cries of “ Don’t say that. The press is here.”) The method to-day was

that if a mau wished to become a membet he found the secretary and paid the en trance fee of ss. As often as not that was the last time they saw each other. The present members had got to organise an army—they asked their representative membeis to sign a pledge, and why should they not do the same amongst themselves? What had the Trades Union got to day in the way of . .incin.ee Nothing. Men wore wanted who wou d til row their whole soul into the move ment. At Home a new star had arisen, and from Mexico to Japan support was coming to break down class dist.net:or, The Trades Union should be a school, and plenty could he found to give instruction. Mr F. Jones replied to the toast.

Other toasts were “ The Performers, proposed by Mr W. Dever and renlird t„ by Mr D. Whelan, and “The Press,” prof.c sed by Mr V. Freei an. A number of enjoyable musical items added greatly to the success of the evening.