THE HALL COUNCIL 6f' VICTORIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1031, 9 April 1884, Page 6

THE HALL COUNCIL 6f' VICTORIA.

A new chamber'- 'has 'been opened in Melbourne for the Trades Hall Council. In it are porfo&rtto'of 'Mr> Jdstice-rffioin-bothattfy Sir Oh»He« rDarlhigf G'dorge StophtfOoon^and'Saittraa^JPlimßoll. 7 A portrait of the late Mr Wilson Gratis >t6>bo added. •nAiP^the *p«»i«i*eotwei«rtDyAMijbJuitice Higinbdbham g*ve an«ddresr, devoted in great part to a eulogy on the 'late John i Wilson ' Gray. ' Jn'the course of his speech 'Mr Jastice'Hiofinbotham said: I have always thought 'that iwheni you 'Mr President, Were following in: his footsteps, and 'working for the establishment of the eighthoura''Byatemj>yoii were -practically realis1 ing the great'principle that was apparent Wilson^Gray's life, and that was the asaertton 1 of a'right-as a right> ahd'the.ad,that rule of policy in disregard of all opposition,' and without yielding' 'to any compromise ; for, after all/ in those days "the eight^houra' principle was^not aching for a manto«takeup from policy. was little to attract attention in^that policy. The working classes themselves did not understand it ; other classes in the community disapproved and were jealous of it ; employers of labour were almost universally unfavourable to it j and Jit was only the principle" that commended *it. "But? it is a; great principle,' and Trear<s able to say that it is not only agreat principle; but >has been a- wise and auccessful (Cheers.) We- are now in 4;he position when all you have to do is to conserve that principle jealously, and endeavour to extend it until it becomes universal.—(Loud Cheers.) I take it that the eight-hours' system is -the principle that has lain "at the' root of the association of trades in "Victoria, and has <been the bohd of union between them from these 'early times down to the present. Their power 1 has become considerable. Directly; • their ' power is 'riot small. I believe* that indirectlythe influence of the associated trades has been exercised with much beneficial effect. I believe that in more recent times the) objects- of > the associated trados bave extended as their numbers have increased, I believe I am right in saying that lately the sanction of this representative body was given to the carrying out of a munificent proposal made by an individual for establishing a working man's college — (loud applause) — and that the * working men of Victoria, with the sanction and support 1 of this representative body,, have contributed largely Ithemselves towards carrying. ihab scheme into There has been another, design with which/ Mr President, you are acquainted,' and with which, I venture to hope you will make this .Council acquainted, and to which you will, I hope, obtain its sanction and support — I mean an attempt to establish among the working .men of Victoria the means of Social enjpyment . and , social intercourse with one<another which would result; from ;the formation of working men's «lubs. — (Hear, hear.)