MR J. A. M'CULLOUGH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16739, 22 May 1922, Page 7

MR J. A. M'CULLOUGH.

PRESENTATION BY LABOUR COUNCIL. Members of tho Canterbury Trades and Labour Council and friends met in the Trades Hall on Saturday nicht to make a presentation to Mr J. A. M’Oillough, who recently resigned his position as workers’ representative on the Arbitration Court. Mr H. Worrall presided over a fair attendance. The chairman stated that the meeting had been called to allow the workers to show their appreciation of Mr M’Cullougli’s services. The presentation that he was to be asked to accept jtvas a local one and had no connection with the Dominion presentation which was to be made later. Mr M’Cullongh had been prominent in Labour circles for about thirty years, and during that time he had gained the esteem of all with whom he had come in contact. Although Mr M’Cullough had resigned his position on the Arbitration Court, it could be taken for granted that his energies would still be directed in the interests of the working class.

Mr E. J. Howard, M.P.. said that when Mr M’Cullough went on the Court it was to the accompaniment of a blaze of fireworks, and a blaze of fireworks had accompanied him when he left it. He had always been a hard fighter, hut possessed the happy knack of not making enemies, despite the fights be had engaged in. .Mr F. R. Cooke said that Mr M’Cullough was a rebel, which stamped him as a good man. because it was the rebels who improved social conditions. He had never hesitated to sacrifice himself where the interests of the workers were concerned.

Mr D. G. Sullivan. M.P.. stated that no one in New Zealand had rendered more honest and able service in tho cause of the workers than Mr M’Cullough. Twenty-five years ago Mr M’Cullongh and Mr H. Atkinson went out in the Square to preach Socialism, and the former had never ceased his efforts in the cause.

Mr J. Flood said that Mr M’Cullough. during his connection with the Court, had been subjected to a lot of criticism, hut he had never gone hack: on the workers.

Mr 11. T. Armstrong .said that nlj though, unlike other speakers, he was j not acquainted with Mr M’Cullough in ; the older days, still he had been ao- ! quainted with his work for many years, i Mr M’Cullough had carried out h?s j duties in a masterly fashion, and had I made a big sacrifice in resigning from the Court, because, to tell the truth, til© position of workers’ representative I or. the Arbitration Court was a good

job for a working man to held, i .Air C. Renn said that Air M’Cullough * had come through his term of office with flying colours. During that period he must have come in contact with those who were directly opposed to hia ideals, hut he had emerged from th*» ■ ordeal with success. The working class would have to shape the future destiny of the country, and Air M’Culfough had shown that he possessed the type of mind that was capable of dealing with such an important question. Others who spoke were Aliss Robinson and Alessrs AY. Rogers. R. O’Brien and G. Afanning.

On rising to reply. Mr M’Cullough was greeted with applause. It made him feel, he said, when he heard what was said about him. that life was worth the living after all. He would like those present to know that it was Air \ Atkinson who had instilled into him i all his views on Socialism. The speaker i was a more confirmed Socialist to-day than he was twenty-five years ago. He i believed that there would be no per- | manent amelioration of the workers* conditions unless it came along the lines of Socialism, despite what some ; people thought to the contrary. Becoming reminiscent, Air Al’Cullougli ; referred to his early experiences with the movement. During the year he i wa. president of the Trades Council, he said, sixteen or seventeen new ! unions joined up. How much work j that meant for him could he judged • when he stated that during that twelve : months he was not able to be with his wife and young family for three nights. I With regard to the Arbitration Court. ! ho had resigned because he felt that h. could not, as an honourable man. continue to sit there. He could assure j his friends that be would do all ho could in future to assist the workers. He would like to state that he nppre--1 ciated the illuminated address presented t© liim, and would treasure it al- ! ways. (Applause.)