CARPENTERS’ UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 23 June 1924, Page 4

CARPENTERS’ UNION.

ADDRESS BY MR IC. C. SUTCLIL-YK Mr E. C. Sutcliffe, secretary of the Canierburv District Council ot tiio Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and "joiners, addressed ji meeting of tlie combined Timaru Onions in the Y.M.C.A. rooms on Saturday evening. In introducing the speaker Mr P. C. Vinuell, who presided, emphasised the necessity of combined organisation as the means of success to the industrial worker. That end was only attainable by the placing of the best men in the responsible, positions. Mr Sutcliffe stated that lie had been president of the Timaru branch about twenty years ago. He remarked on the rapid progress of the town since that period, especially in regard to buildings. The speaker remarked on the improvements at Caroline-Bay, which ho remembered as a heap of clay cliffs. Trade unionism, he went on to say, was the saying factor of the industrial workers’ living, and with unity and fixity of purpose all obstacles could be surmounted. Mr Sutcliffe, continuing, regretted that two unions in the -me industry existed in Timaru. This was the reason of his visit, to bring them closer together. When first their Society came into existence in New Zealand,. and for a number of years after they were governed from Manchester (England). They had had to withdraw owing to the excessive levies imposed on the Dominion members. They now had Dominion autonomy, consisting of a council of eleven members, an executive of three members, and five district council secretaries, their headquarters being at Wellington. tie stressed the numerous advantages ex tended to members, the most important being the Compensation Act. Over £2oi)o worth of insurance claims were put through last year with absolutely no expense to the members.

Mr Sutcliffe then answered a number of questions. A vote of thanks to lhe speaker was carried by acclamation.