FURNITURE TRADE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 14

FURNITURE TRADE.

SMOKING CONCERT LAST NIGHT.

The conference of workers in the furniture trade, which has been in progress in Christchurch since the holidays, was brought to a conclusion last night by a smoking concert in the Druids Hall. Mr H. M. Stewart presided over a large attendance. The health of the King having been drunk, Mr A. Clarke proposed that of the congress, He said that some years ago the furniture workers had realised that it would be as well to have a main body intimate with its interests throughout New Zealand. So the federation was formed. .The organisation had done all that was expected, and perhaps a trifle more. Not only had it held the trade together, but had pushed further the right for others throughout the country, and had placed the whole trade upon a solid footing. The conditions of work to-day were largely the results of its efforts.

| Mr D. G. Sullivan replied to the toast. ' He said that six years ago the trade ; had not been organised; the federation | had been formed, and had certainly ; benefitted those in the trade itself, and :in addition had helped in the whole i matter of industrial content and ad- • vantage for the workers throughout the j Dominion. It was a matter of satisfaction for Christchurch that the movement had originated there, and that he, a Christchurch man, had twice been elected president. Mr Sullivan dealt at length with the work of the confer ence. All the "trouble" had now been sattled, and affairs were as before it had arisen. The speaker then referred to the new award suggested which would be tried for in the future. He dealt als.o wilh the fact that it was |u'<fpos3cf>'f.o* establish a sick, death, and 1 Mr Ji I. Bajlovv proposed the health i of the visiting delegates, and congratulated thehi upon the hard work which they hjad! accomplished. He referred especially • to the presence of Mr Stewart; the founder of the union. Mr H. [M. Stewart, of Dnnedin, the founder of the union, replied to the toast, and told the story of the founding of the, first union, twenty years ago. He paijl a very warm and most complimentary, tribute to Mr I). G. Sullivan, the ' pro'si<|lent, 'for the way in which he had stderbd tlite conference. The trade was lucky, lief said, in having such a v msCn at its hea'd, and others with him. to act' as 1 .advisers and helpers. Tlie Christchurch delegates had shown great aptitude in the grasping of difficult positions. Throughout their attitude at the conference had been intelligent and praiseworthy. It was not a matter of what had been said, but of what had been understood and had been done at the conference. Each delegate had j'perfonned his part.