CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3298, 17 August 1911, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

TRADES COUNCIL MEETING

LTO THE EDITOR.! Hr,—Your report, dealing with mattersl discussed <-y the Gisborne branch of the 'trades Council, and appearing in Monday’s ‘Times” conveys an entirely wrong impression. Especially is this so with respect to the attitude of the President. Mr. a. S. Richards. I think, sir, I can assure y-ou that no heated discussion, took place l while dealing with the President’s motion. Most of the delegates thoroughly understood the real import of the motion, which the President only meant as a protest against any further disabilities being placed in the way of his fellow-workmen in bringing their struggle to a speedy and successful issue, and net so much to protest against any action the author - ties might deem advisable for tlie preservation of order. The president’s great sympathy for his fellowworkmen in trouble is well known by every delegate on the Council. Hence were were only anxious that a- resolution of sympathy to them should stand in his name. So we 1 advised him to abandon the latter part of his motion—first, because it seemed distasteful to some delegates; and, second, because Mr. Richards would most likely be entirely misunderstood bv your readers. Because delegates interject “You are preaching anarchy,” and tlie “Times” used the interjection to make a sensational headline to an otherwise harmless enough report, Mr. Richards would, no doubt, on, the authority of the “Times,” be dubbed by l his detractors on anarchist. I hope, sir, they will accept this explanation on his behalf as it is undoubtedly due to him. Anarchy as a charge against the Trades Council generally could only be sustained with difficulty. In fact, sir, were it your privilege to attend our deliberations you would not, I am sure, be alarmed at our revolutionary tendencies, but amazed at our shocking moderation. It might, indeed, be said of us, as is said of the darkey, we work (for reform) with caution, and rest with extravagance.—l am, etc., G. BARTLETT.