WOODLANDS NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21430, 26 June 1931, Page 5

WOODLANDS NOTES

(From Our Correspondent.) A prepared debate was held at the weekly meeting of the Literary and Debating Society’s meeting on Tuesday. The subject was “That- the time is now ripe when trade unionism should be abolished in New Zealand.” The Rev. Mr Renwick acted as judge while Mrs E. Hargest was in the chair. Mr L. Griffin opened for the affirmative. He admitted that in the past labour unions had done good work, but they were now no longer necessary. The laws of this country had been made to give the worker ample protection while anything requiring change would be settled by the Arbitration Court. Mr J. Trotter, leader of the negative, expressed pleasure that even the affirmative had admitted that in the. past the unions had justified their existence. Die laws of the country and findings of any court of arbitration, etc., could be influenced by organized capital to the detriment not only by unionists, but of all labourers. Mr E. Hargest (affiimative) mentioned several industries which -were ruined by unionism of labour. The unions in his opinion protected the loafer at the expense of the genuine labourer. The high demands of unionism meant a very much dearer article in any industry. Mrs Renwick (negative) dealt with the spirit of labour, showing how it was impossible to do without unionism. If the worker to-day was deprived of the protection afforded by unionism, his services would be exploited by ruthless men, she said.

Mr C. Bigwood (affirmative) illustrated his opinion by referring to some of the incidents where a labourer could not use his own judgment, for all his actions to his industry were governed by the leaders of unionism. He dealt fully with this point, showing how unionism having fulfilled its sphere of. usefulness, was now under the charge of people who used it as a tool to their own ends. The energy of unionism to-day was spent in maintaining itself to no good purpose. Mr J. Middlemiss (negative) said the worker had been ground down by forces which only unionism by labour could prevail against. Mr S. August (affirmative) said there was no justification for the continuance of this system which cost the worker fortunes to maintain. Its work was done, its present day platform was not in the best interests of any one, not even the worker, and its intentions were the personal aim of its leaders who did not even profess to have thought for general advancement or social betterment.

Mr W. Bell (negative) showed how every trade or profession was organized into co-operative bodies He said one individual could make little impression to-day whereas many spoke with a mighty voice. In giving his decision the judge made several remarks about the debate and the manner in which the speakers had handled the subject. He gave the negative the verdict. General. Winners at the euchre tournament at Woodlands this week were Mrs Muir - and Miss McKerchar who tied for the ladies’ prize, and Mr R. Brown who won the men’s prize. At Longbush Miss Olive Brown won the ladies’ prize and Mr J. Poole the men’s. Advice has been received by cablegram in Dunedin that Dr. Charles Read has been appointed honorary, gynaecological surgeon to the Chelsea Hospital for Wompn, London. Dr. Read is a son of Mr and Mrs J. J. Read, now of Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, and formerly of Woodlands. He received his primary education at Woodlands School, his secondary education at the Southland Boys’ High School, and graduated at Otago University. He is a present gynaecological and obstetric registrar and tutor at Westminr ster. Hospital and Medical School. Dr. Bonney, one of the most eminent authorities on obstetrics in England, spoke well of Dr. Read’s work when he visited New Zealand a few years ago and predicted for him a bright future. . j