STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8884, 18 September 1890, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(from our own correspondent.) September 17. — At a meeting of lirbary subscribers held on Saturday evening a committee of management was appointed, consisting of Messrs T. H. Perm (Chairman), C. J. Watkins (treasurer,) E. Evans, J. Irvine, J. Plews, and J. J. •Taylor. The committee then met and decided to get a fresh supply of books, and to invite applications for the post of librarian. Subscribers who wish any particular books procured should take the opportunity of making.known their wishes to the committee at once, so that the books can be included in tho order which will be sent to Wellington early next week. The Literary Society held another well attended meeting on Tuesday, the ladies being in strong force. Vice-President Mr T. Perm occupied the chair. The subject of debate — the present aspect of Trades Unionism — was handled in a masterly manner by the leader Mr T. M. Smith who strongly condemned the Labor Unions for the aggressive attitude now taken up in seeking to make Unionism compulsory and for resorting, as a moans to that end, to the system of terrorism known as boycotting. He eulogized the action of the Railway Commissioners in taking the firm stand that they had dono, and considered it a most fortunate thing that at this juncture the control should bo out of the hands of the Ministry. The action of certain school > committees in regard to Whitcombe andTombs's publications was also unfavorably received. Mr j Thos. Perm was, apart from present developments, in favor of Unions, which he considered had done much good. He believed the present difficulties would result in the establishment of arbitration boards, the members of which would bo nominated by the three parties interested, the employer, the employed, and the Government as representing tho public. The Eev. J. Mclntosh took the labor side of the question, and in a humorous speech pointed out some of the weak spots in the arguments of the previous speakers. He was followed by Messrs J. A. "Jones, C. Perm, C. S. Curtis, T. H. Perm, and C. Finnerty (Patea). The latter gentleman, a new member, took the broad view of the subject, contending that whatever the errors and shortcomings of Unionism it was tending to the ultimate good of humanity. It was the outcome of tho natural dislike of every man to be inferior to his fellows. He believed the present antagonism of labor and capital would in the course of another generation or two, or perhaps sooner, give way to some social sytem as that sketched by Mr Bellamy in his well-known work "Looking Backward." The Eev. J. Mclntosh moved the adjournment of the debate to the next meeting on Tuesday, 23rd inst, Seconded by Mr Burgess and agreed to. Now that the rival parties are marshalling their forces for the approaching Parliamentary elections it cannot be too strongly urged upon everyone to see for himself th&t his name is upon the electoral roll. The Egmont roll appears to be very incomplete — for instance, on the Pembroke Road out of sojie score of settlers only three names are on the list. At a rough estimate, half the settlers in this part of the Egmont electorate will find, unless they at once fill up the necessary forma and have their names added, that they have no votes. Apart from its being a man's imperative duty to exercise a right to acquire which his forefather fought and suffered, it is peculiarly necessary that this district should poll every available vote. We are struggling to obtain that recognition as a district of some importance, and whose needs are worth studying, to which we are entitled and which has been so long withheld, and if, through our own apathy, we are only able to use half our political strength then" we richly deserve to be left out in the cold. Forms of application are to be had at the Post Office, and must be sent in next week. A copy of the Egmont roll can be seen at the branch office of the Tabanaki Herald, at Messrs Curtis's store. The Fungus Minstrels are in rare form, and given a fine night, will, no doubt, attract a bumper house. However, they will know their fate in that respect before this appears in print.