Convention Travelling Expenses.

White Ribbon, Volume 16, Issue 188, 16 February 1911, Page 4

Convention Travelling Expenses.

To the Editor of the White Ribbon

I was more than surprised to read Miss Powell’s letter iu last month’s \S iiite Ribbon. I quite agree that she is not legally bound, as wo are an unregistered union. I think no member is legally bound to honour any resolution, according te the lawyer’s opinion I got hist year. lie advised that the resolution ran as follows:—“That the Convention “recommends for the adoption of all “ members this scheme whereby all fares “to Convention be equalised.” “And “ that each union be commune ated with “and asked for an opinion on the sub“ject, then the resolution would be in “perfectly good form, and each union “ would have hud an opportunity of “ saying yes, or no, to the scheme proposed. The Convention, according to “its constitution see Article IV.), bus “ no actual control over any of the local “unions. All it can do is to muke suggestions to these unions, which, if “reasonable and advantageous, tlu» “ unions in all cases would he loyal “ enough to adopt.” Hut if I have understood our union, and its work aright, we have always stood on a higher platform than legality, thus our motto is : “ For God, Home, and Humanity.” We often do things for someone's good, and somebody is crying out it s not legal, but we accomplish outwork, and get to the end by the shortest route. Now, I hold that Miss Powell is hound to carry out the scheme. In her former letter of November, 19(19, she says concerning the scheme, “ This has “been bef*<njus several times, and has “ now* been remitted to the unions “ throughout New Zealand, that it may “ be settled one way or the other.” As ali delegates to Invercargill know, they

came to that Convention with instructions to vote for, or against the scheme, and it was carried by 32 votes to 9, Miss Powell herself saying she was converted to the scheme, and voting for it. Therefore she is morally bound to try it, until that resolution is rescinded. Miss Powell s delay in not writing until just at the last, when several Southern unions, to my knowledge, have purposed sending delegates, and have raised sufficient funds on the strength of the scheme being adopted, is most serious. This scheme has been before the unions all the year, and if Miss Powell intended to oppose it, she should have done it sooner , so that those thinking of sending delegates would have known that there was opposition. I look upon it as the only way to get a good representation from the Dominion as a whole, and a bit of Christian Socialism to have all things common, and help one another, so that every union might be able to send a delegate, wherever Convention was held, as the cost would never be beyond the means of any union. I hold that this resolution is just as binding us any other resolution passed by our Conventions, and equally legal, and that we are morally bound to support it. Yours for loving service, Clara Lill. February Ith, 11)11.