TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5434, 9 December 1895, Page 4

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labour .Council was held in Ing Us' Buildings on Saturday; Mr. S. Billaiff (president) in the chair. Correspondence was received from several bodies, expressing their intention of abstaining from supporting a certain firm in CJhristchurch on the ground of its endeavouring to establish the principle of freedom of contract. A letter was received from the Department of Labour in answer to suggestions from the Council regarding improvements in the management of the Labour Bureau. The suggestions were five in number, viz., (1) that work be allotted where practicable to the_ most needy cases ; (2) weekly registration _of applicants ; (3) standard wages to be paid ; (4) employers must state the rate of wages they offer, and this not to be below standard rate ; (5) all co-operative building work to be described and specified, drawings and specifications to be accessible two clear days before the allotment of the work. The reply from the department was to the effect that all the suggestions

were being practised with the exception of the last, and that in future that suggestion would be put into practice. Correspondence was received from the Progressive Liberal Association, stating that it had compiled a list of names and addresses of secretaries --of all Labour and Political Associations in ! New Zealand; and v requesting the Council to contribute its share towards the cost of printing. It was resolved to accede to the request. Prom the same body,' enclosing a resolution passed at its last meeting, thanking the Council for its efforts to establish a Political Council. Letters were received from other bodies bearing on the same subject, one stating that while it was supposed' to be represented at the meeting no authority had been given to anyono to act on its behalf. After considerable discussion, it was resolved— "That this Council make a further /effort to consolidate the Liberal and Labour vote of Christchurch, and that the whole of the bodies be again invited by circular to send delegates to. attend a conference, to be •"hold in Inglis's Buildings on Bee. 21, at eight o'clock, the basis of representation to ,be according to the number. of members in each organisation, one for the first hundred or part thereof, and an additional one ■' for each succeeding fifty, the Council to satisfy itself a3 to the genuineness of the credentials of delegates."