LABOR AND THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2506, 20 May 1909, Page 4

LABOR AND THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —It is creditable to note that the writer “Anti-Humbug” has not the courage to attach his signature to Ins correspondence of prevarications, foi it proves concluively that lie has sufficient consciousness to make him the coward. 1 am, at- all times, willing to reply to the best of mv ability to any critical correspondence' that may arise, against me or the Trades and Tabor Conner, providing thev hail from •‘men. The last epistle of' “Anti-Humbug' is scarcely worthy of the ink, but inoidei to avoid vour readers being misled as to the constitution of the Trades Council I hog of vou to allow me a short space in so doing. The main object oi the Council is to improve the. conditions and protect the interests of all classes of labor throughout the East Coast district. It is composed of twenty-two delegates, being duly elected by members' of the respective unions representing over (550 members. All questions of vital importance arc referred to the affiliated unions for then; approval. The question of contesting’ the respective elections (as referred to by “Anti-Humbug' ) was discussed by all affiliated unions, and met with unanimous npprova'. This, in a nutshell, proves that “Anti-Humbug s statement 1 - are not correct. 1 doty him. or anyone else, to prove that any action has boon committed in respect to the Council that has not been done in the spirit of democracy. —l j ,n Gisborne. May TS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—A octuple of letters having appeared in the “Times” signed "Antillumbim,” with your kind permission I will cross swords with him, as J tool drawn into the controversy by a statement he made that two or three people Vho officer this society meet together, etc. Although my resignation has been sent in, .1 am practically stall an officer until it is accepted. By your corres-pondents-remarks it is very evident fie needs a little enlightenment, as he appears to be very ignorant oi the su> jeet he is writing about. As to the Trades and Labor Council being run by two ov three individuals, let me teil him it is composed of some fifteen or twent} delegates appointed by the different, unions to represent their views on the Council; in other words, it is simp G « working committee of tho difleicnt unions. Therefore 1 take strong exception to his 'castigation when he says their action demonstrates that thev aie individualists with an optic ever fixed on No. ]. AYhat on earth does lie mean bv this caustic,remark? Does he mean

to infer that if Mr. Hal! had happened to be successful in his candidature, tliat as a Borough Councillor he would be a gainer thereby? If so, I fail to see in what way he would be a gamer, considering that he does not even own the house lie lives in. I cannot see how he would gain as an individual, unless it would be a'gain to him to sit discussing borough matters until two or three o’clock in the morning, and then start his day’s work some five hours 1 liter. As far as I can see Air. Hall is working for the good of the majority to a far greater extent than “Anti-Humbug ran lay claim to be, seeing that he is afraid "to supply us with his name to enable us to make a comparison. 1 should take your correspondent to be some rash young man looking for fight. It certainly does not read like the pouring of a broad, expansive mmd, but rather that of a narrow mind, requiring a few more years to everyday life to ripen its judgment. He talks of whiskers combined witb common-sense. I would beg to remind bim that it is a common thing to have no sense; as therc are some like myself with a bountiful supply of the former but rather a shortage of the latter. In conclusion, I would like to give your correspondent a little fatherly advice on dont’s m future. Don’t ’write on a subject you are not thoroughly conversant with. Don’t forget that your correspondence is coming under the eye of a critical public. Don’t think that you are beyond criticism. Don’t forget that there are snags in the river of life and that you might run foul of one. Don’t forget that it is possible to have brains inside a Trades and Labor Council as well as outside. —I am, etc.. C. CATION. [To The Editor.] Sir, —As “Anti-Humbug” refers in his last letter to the’Trades Council nominees at the recent Borough Council election as “individuals who combine to get themselves nominated as candidates for public offices.” T. as one of the said candidates, cast this aspersion back in his teeth. He had better be more careful of his statements, for I will brook no such untruths from such as he.—l am, etc., AI. G. NASAIITH, Jun-