EAST COAST TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2473, 12 April 1909, Page 6

EAST COAST TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL.

■ ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual meeting of the East Coast Trades and Labor Council was held on Saturday evening, there being a large attendance of delegates. Mr. M'. Cr. Nasmith, junr (President) occupied the chair. After the outgoing and incoming correspondence had been dealt with, the. President nresented his report on the year’s working of the Council, as follows: —

“Fellow- Unionists, —In presenting my report on the first year’s working of the East Coast Trades and Labor Council, f do so with great pride, knowing full well that unionism m Gisborne is nowplaced on a firm foundation. This fact has been brought about by the formation of the Council, the establishment of which has fully justified . itself. The matter of forming a Council was debated" by unionists for some time prior to its being brought about, but the ardent unionists kept the matter in view and the Council became an accomplished fact. “'The Council consists of eight unions in affiliation, having in the commencement a total membership of 510. In the short space of twelve months the membership' increased to 650, thus proving that unionism, in this district is making steady progress. The present unions in affiliation with the Council are:—Bakers’, Carpenters’, Drivers’, Freezers’, Painters’, Tailors’, Typographical and the Waterside Workers’. Several attempts have been made to get the blacksmiths and farriers, also the plumbers and gasfit'ters of this’ district organised into unions, but I regret to have to say that, owing to the apathy of the. workers in the respective trades, it proved a forlorn hope. It is our earnest hope that new blood will be introduced into the district, which will be imbued with more of the' true spirit of manliness. The Poverty Bay Slaughtermen’s Union and the Gisborne branch of the Australasian Institute of Marine Engineers have been requested to seek affiliation with the Trades Council. The latter body states, in reply, that being an inter-branch of Wellington district, they could not act without the consent of their parent union. The request has been forwarded on to- Wellington and

they arc awaiting a reply. The Slaughtermen’s Union has stated its inability for the present t-o affiliate for financial reasons. “The work of the Council throughout the past year has been heavy, important, and I can say successful. It has had to pursue a policy of close economy owing to its finances being so limited. Taking into consideration the fact that the Council has had to face heavy expenses incidental to its formation, its work has necessarily been confined, and it can undoubtedly bo claimed that the Council has made a true and honest attempt to further the interests of unionism generally. “Labor Day celebration, with its gigantic trades’ procession and successful sports, was one of the chief signs of the activity of the Council aiding good cause—Maternity Home. This splendid spirit' of aiding humanity loft a warm feeling amongst the public towards unionism. I trust, now that the ice is broken. Labor Day of the future, wid be the chief holiday of the year. __ “Owing to the financial stress or toe Council I regret it could not send a direct representative to the Conference _ot the N.Z. Trades and Labor Conner.s, held at "Wellington, in July. 1908.. Hon. Jno. Barr consented to act as its representative and was unanimously accepted by the Council, but owing to the Conference’s standing orders not allowing of representative by proxy, the Hon. J. Barr had to withdraw. In connection with the Trades Councils Conference the question of a Federation of Labor was brought up and tne scheme embodying the proposal was adopted. The matter was then referred to our Council, together with other Trades and Labor Councils, -and the proposal was heartily supported by your Council. “One achievement of the Council during the year has been to get the necessary citation and other forms required under the Arbitration Act stocked by the local Labor office, thus avoiding the necessity of applying to the Clerk of Awards at Auckland. “The new Arbitration Act was thoroughly discussed by the Conned during the year and opinions were expressed thereon. A largo number of resolutions dealing with subjects of more or IcoS importance were passed by the Council, amongst them being a protest against the general public support-accorded to Chinese shops. “At the time of the Parliamentary election the Council submitted a number of questions to the local candidates, HI bearing on labor questions, and the replies on the whole were considered satisfactory. . . “The Council, in order to gam -a high-, or standard generally for the workers, recognises the necessity of having direct representation, on all local bodies. It is determined to avail itself of every opportunity to gain this end.. It is urgently hoped that every Unionist will stand loyally by the Council at the ballot box. , . r “In connection with the .election of the Licensing Bench the Council at first resolved to seek representation on that body with a view to obtaining impartial action, but at the request- of the boroimh Council it was decided not ro force an election at the present junctnre owing to the deplorable state o* the Borough Council’s finances, especially in view of a compromise navuiq been arrived at between the License and No-license parties. To our surprise, -w the last moment a few gentlemen upset the agreement between the two panties, but the unionists, I am pleased to say, kept faith with the compromise, ticket they returned at the beau ox the !> °“The Borough Council is one of the chief bodies our Council desires representation on. Three nominees have been chosen to contest the forthcoming election. It promises to be a touga fight, bui I hope Labor will show good results. In" municipal matters the council has taken a keen interest during the year.. At the recent poll taken in connection with improving our roads and acquiring rec,r<? !v Hr\n reserves, the Council acut cl} snppßo#T%<> projects, but was against the proposed drainage scheme (Mestover’s) as being too expensive far the -Borough. At the same time the Coun-c-‘l definitely states that a drainage ■ icheffie is absolutely necessary for the vvellfare of. Ah" town.’ . . , “On the Harbor Board we should also We direct representation. Ltx regaia to this matter the Council passed a reWrfcion urging the Government to extep|ifhe franchise of tlie-Boaid ->y a. 10 “T&Sool Committee is another important body to the workers, and it hobo ves all to-sc-e that th&rismg g*m ition is receiving the best of , under healthy conqitioiis cv^h jn ga. 'With tins m view, the -Voa.--._i .

have appointed two nominees to contest the election. “One of the acts of the Council in the coining year should be the securing of a permanent room for all Union meetings, such room to be known as the Trades Hall or Trades Chamber. This matter has been -receiving the careful consideration cf the Council during the past year, but no finality has yet been reached. However, definite action should shortly eventuate.

“In conclusion I beg to express a hope vliat the deliberations of . the Council in the coming year will hear good fruit, and not be a mere humdrum routine of moving and adopting resolutions. Though much has been done, more yet remains to be accomplished, and it is only by cohesion that unions can achieve their objects. Let us ever bear in mind the motto of the Council. ‘Union is strength, strength commands justice.’ ” Mr. T. Williams proposed the adoption of the report. He said it covered all the work of the Council, and had been well put together. Mr. T. B. Sw-eet seconded the proposition. He agreed that the Council had done good woi'k, and also agreed with the President that much remained to bo accomplished. Mr. T. Williams raised the matter of a Trades Hall as dealt with in the report. He urged that the Council should reach finality on the matter, and suggested that the Council should procure rooms and re-let them to the various unions, endeavoring possibly to so arrange matters that the Council should sit rent free. _ The secretary detailed all the efforts that had been made to secure rooms, and said that no suitable premises had yet-been discovered. . The President mentioned a suitable room that had come under his notice, and on his undertaking to make inquiries the matter was allowed to drop. The motion adopting the report was then carried unanimously. It was resolved that copies of the report be' forwarded to all unionists m the district. , . - The balance-sheet, winch showed a credit bajjmee, was then presented and adopted. . The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr. IL Halligan; vice-president, Mr. C. Catt-on.; secretary, Mr. J. H. Hall (re-elected); treasurer. Mr. 0. Peterson; committee, Messrs M. G. Nasmith, jnr, J. C. Hardin", Gratton, S. Old, C. HMvitt; trustees Messrs T. Wiliams and Mullane; auditors, Messrs S. Old and G. Ansell. Mr. C. Catton proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing officers. Mr. T. Williams seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Old considered that appreciation should be shown of the work performed by the secretary, Mr. J. H. Hall, who had been instrumental m forming the Council. He suggested that a photograph of the members of the Council should be presented to Mr. Hall. Several members sp-oke in warm appreciation of the work of Mr. Hall, and the proposal of Mr. Old was unanimously accepted amidst applause. The matter was left in the hands of the President to arrange. - 'The President, in accordance with notice,' moved “That half-yearly meetings be abolished, and that an annual report and an annual, balance-sheet be presented at the annual meeting. ’ Mr, Hall seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.