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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 2
Our Correspondents
Our Correspondents.
The half-yearly meeting of the Auckland Branch of the N.Z.T.A. was held in Robson's Rooms on August 18. There was a good attendance of members, and much interest was taken in the proceedings. The state of the printing trade in the Auckland district was thoroughly considered, and suggestions made whereby improvement could be effected. The question of boy and girl labor in printing offices was discussed, the meeting deprecating the large extent to which this class of labor was utilised to the exclusion of adults. It was also shown that there was little or no advantage derived by master printers by filling their offices with apprentices even from a financial point of view. This swamping of offices with boys was considered unjust both to the apprentices and the trade generally. The number of boys and girls engaged in the trade in Auckland was estimated at two to each journeyman. The low prices at which work is tendered for was also commented on, the report advocating that the heads of printing houses form themselves into an association for their mutual protection, and arrange a schedule of prices which would be advantageous to themselves and their workmen. The following resolutions were carried unanimously:—
« That the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Typographical Association views with regret the state of the printing trade in Auckland, which it believes is brought about by the unfair predominance of boy and girl labor, and wishes in all possible ways to strengthen the hands of the Executive Council in providing a remedy for this evil; also, to express its approval and hearty concurrence in the steps being taken to bring about federation with the various Typographical Unions in Australia. »
« That to strengthen the hands of the Association, the Secretary be instructed to write to non-society men, inviting them to become members of the New Zealand Typographical Association. » The report and balance-sheet were adopted.
The meeting was unanimous that something should be done to raise the trade to a higher status here, and non-society men were invited to join the Branch to strengthen the hands of the Association.
The fourteenth half-yearly meeting of the Hawke's Bay branch of the N.Z. Typographical Association was held to-day at the Working Men's Club, and there was a large attendance of members. The report and balance-sheet, which were adopted, showed the branch to be in a satisfactory financial position, the sum of £9 14s 11d (£8 more than last half-year) being carried forward to credit. The membership, on the other hand, showed a decrease, being 17 as against 24 six months ago. Four members had been admitted during the half-year, but eleven had severed their connexion with the branch. Eight of these had left the colony, owing to the wretched state of the trade in New Zealand: the remaining three had seceded, alleging dissatisfaction with the constitution of the N.Z.T.A. For the ensuing term of twelve months, the following officers were elected: President, G. H. Long; Vice-President, E. Bull; Board members, E. Maney and M. L. Reading. The secretary and treasurer Mr J. Carruth, and the retiring auditors, Messrs W. Major and T. M. Murphy, were re-elected.
Mr John Rigg, jun., who has been selected to represent the N.Z.T.A. at the forthcoming conference to be held in Melbourne, wrote inviting the branch to consider what questions it desired to be discussed at the conference. The meeting, after considering the subject, resolved: « This meeting has perfect confidence in the representative to be sent by the Executive Council, and hopes that he will ask the most careful consideration on the part of the Conference of the disastrous consequences of so many small offices in New Zealand, creating 'half-breeds,' and thus bringing the trade down to the present low rate of wages. »
Reference was also made to certain defaulters, who had left the place indebted to the Board for certain advances of money, and it was reported what steps had been taken to recover the amounts.
During the past term five regular Board meetings had been held, and no necessity for any special meeting had arisen.