No manifesto issued by the Trade in these colonies is of greater interest or importance than the following, bearing date December, 1890, and sent out in the form of a circular to all affiliated bodies by the Australasian Typographical Union. It will be considered at the next half-yearly meeting of the N.Z.T.A. Believing that it is deserving of the thoughtful consideration of every one in the Trade, and worthy of being placed permanently on record in the organ of the Craft, we publish it in full:—

The following Resolution, received from the New South Wales Typographical Association, was exhaustively considered at a special meeting of the Executive Council of the Union, held on Saturday, 15th November, 1890:—

We, the Members of the New South Wales Typographical Association, earnestly urge upon the Union their immediate attention to the following grave matters: The necessity of an Australasian scale of charges, the Apprentice Question, Female Labor, Reciprocity of Mortality and Out-of-work Allowance, and Legislation in the Country Districts.

The conclusions arrived at by the Council, as hereunder set forth, are submitted to societies for consideration, with a recommendation that the same be adopted by the Australasian Typographical Union.

An Australasian Scale of Charges.—However desirable an Australasian scale of charges may be, the Council are of opinion that at present, and for some time to come, one scale for the whole of Australasia would be found to be impracticable. The working scale should be largely governed by local circumstances—the importance of the city or town, and the amount of work there performed; the strength of the local society, &c.—and, as these vary to some extent in almost every district, it would be a matter of great difficulty to make one scale fit all round. For example, the scale of cities like Melbourne and Sydney could not be applied and insisted upon at Launceston or Hobart, or Western Australia; and so also the scale of these latter places would not be suitable to Sydney or Melbourne. These considerations induce the Council to the belief that an Australasian scale of charges would, upon application, be found to be unworkable.

The Apprentice Question.—The apprentice question is one fraught with much difficulty, and, for that reason, should be constantly kept in view by societies. The subject has been under discussion from time to time, but, so far, reform has not been general. Like the preceding, this question largely depends upon local circumstances— the terms one society may be able to make may be quite out of the reach of another society working under less favorable conditions. From the Council's point of view, an employer in only entitled to as many apprentices as will keep up his supply of journeymen without assistance from outside sources; apprentices, in fact, were originally claimed on this principle, but the percentage necessary for this purpose has not been satisfactorily settled. That the percentage allowed by some societies is too high there is no doubt. The Council are of opinion that a fair percentage would be one apprentice for the house, and one for every three journeymen permanently employed. All apprentices should be legally bound for a term not less than seven years, and turnovers should be rebound. Societies should also use their influence in getting a Bill passed through Parliament making the binding of apprentices compulsory. If such a law were made it would be of vast benefit to the printing trade, as it is the only means by which the country towns, where there is nothing but « apprentices » working at the business, could be reached.

Female Labor.—The question of female labor is one of much importance. While some societies have enjoyed immunity from this evil, other have had, and some still have, the matter seriously before them. Female labor means nothing more than cheap labor, and all societies are enjoined to look upon it in this light, and set their faces steadily against it. With the experience of societies in whose districts female compositors have been introduced—notably New Zealand and Western Australia—for their guide, societies will plainly see that it would be highly detrimental to their welfare to recognize female labor in any way, and the Council's advice lies most decisively in this direction.

Reciprocity of Mortality Allowance.—Reciprocity of mortality allowance is not a new proposition. A general mortality fund was first mooted about two years since, and last year a scheme was submitted to the delegate meeting of the Union and adopted, subject to the approval of the different societies. Two or three societies have since sent in their approval of the scheme, but the others have taken no action in the matter, and the Council, in view of the slight interest taken, had no option but to hold the rule relating to the subject in abeyance for a time, until the question had been further ventilated. The scheme approved by the delegate meeting last year is as follows:

Upon the death of a member of twelve months' standing in any one of the societies affiliated with the Union, who shall not be more than 10s 6d in arrears, his nominee or widow shall be entitled to the sum of £25, such sum to be paid at once by the local society. Information and proof of such death to be immediately forwarded to the secretary of the Union. The total sum expended in connexion with this fund to be defrayed annually by the whole of such affiliated societies upon a per capita basis of calculation.

The scheme is simplicity itself, and, as will readily be seen, besides carrying the principle into places where it is not possible for the society to have a fund of its own, provides that a member's allowance shall follow him wherever he goes. This is a very necessary consideration. Under the present system of local funds, a member leaving a district and joining a society where there is a separate fund, leaves his allowance behind him, and is not eligible to participation in the mortality fund of the society he has joined for twelve months. For example: A member of the Melbourne Typographical Society at the present time may be entitled to £36, he paying into that fund since its inception. It becomes necessary for that member to remove to Sydney or elsewhere, and he, as a consequence, retires from the Melbourne Society; if he were to die in the course of a month or so he would be entitled to nothing at all. This is most unsatisfactory, and amounts to nothing short of an injustice. Under the scheme provided for in the Union rules, £25 will follow the member wherever he goes, and whenever he dies that amount will be available. An impression appears to prevail in some directions that under the general scheme the accumulated funds already in existence would be claimed by the Union. This impression is altogether erroneous; societies having these funds would still retain them, to be used at their discretions. The bonus question would also remain a strictly local matter. The £1 per year bonus would not be interfered with in any way under the general scheme, which would simply provide for the £25 minimum being reciprocal among the affiliated societies, anything beyond this being left entirely to local societies. The scheme of a general mortality fund speaks for itself, and the Council are convinced that its adoption by the affiliated societies would be followed by a material strengthening of their ranks—would bring about a better bond of unity, thereby improving the position of societies throughout Australasia. The Council cordially submits the scheme to societies, feeling confident that the result of its consideration will be that the Council will be placed in the position of being able to bring the rule into operation in the immediate future.

Reciprocity of Out-of-work Allowance.—Any movement which has for its object the greater cementation of the trade in these colonies should have the approval and support of the affiliated societies. Reciprocity of out-of-work allowance is a move in this direction, and, as such, claims attention. The Council are not prepared at the present moment to submit a scheme for a general out-of-work fund, but are of opinion that such a fund would be of advantage to the trade. At the present time two or three societies have an unemployed fund, under which unemployed members get a certain amount of relief under certain conditions, and it is suggested that these funds should be general and reciprocal. Within the knowledge of the Council, the number of unemployed is annually increasing in these colonies, and it might well be made an object of the Union to relieve such through the various societies. At the present time it is only the desire of the Council to bring the matter prominently before societies, but when the time is ripe they will lay before them a scheme for their approval and adoption for the carrying out of the proposition.

Legislation in the Country Districts.—The time has arrived when this question should be seriously taken up by societies; in fact, the question might be asked— « ؟Have not the country districts been left to themselves for too long a time? » Many years ago it was contended by thoughtful men in the profession that missionary work in the country districts should be undertaken by the societies then in existence; but in those days the affairs of the towns where those societies were located engrossed the whole of their attention. Since then trade unionism, as represented by the various Typographical Associations, has made wonderful strides in the larger towns and cities of the Continent, and consequently those associations are now in a much better position to take the country districts in hand. There is an immense field of labor in this direction in the various colonies and there can be no doubt that a great benefit would result page 18to the trades were the work undertaken. The Council are of opinion that the proper bodies to do this work are the societies themselves, as constituting the Union, and the Council has affirmed its willingness to co-operate in every possible way with any society taking the matter in hand. The country districts are looked upon as a menace to societies at the present time through the number of half-taught youths they are able to supply in times of emergency. Many of these youths know nothing of typographical societies or their aims, and can hardly be blamed for any mischief they may do. Therefore it is a duty which societies owe to themselves to see that the young men employed in country offices are made alive to the advantages to be gained from trade unionism, and where possible to form societies for the extension of the objects which the Union has in view. As before stated, the Council will give every possible assistance to societies undertaking such work, and earnestly recommends the subject for their consideration.

By authority of the Council.