1.—Name and Constitution.

That this Association shall be called "The Otago Trades and Labor Council," and shall consist of delegates from any trade, body, or society, who shall constitute the working members. Honorary members shall be admissible on payment of half-a-guinea per annum, and may attend and address meetings of the Council, but shall not be allowed to vote.

2.—Objects.

3.—Representation.

That representatives be elected from, and by, each society or union according to numbers, as follows:—For every society, one representative; if numbering over twenty-five financial members, two representatives; over fifty members, three representatives; and any society or union shall be entitled to send an extra representative for every additional fifty financial members. One-third of the members of the Council to form a quorum.

4.—Admission.

Any society or union desirous of belonging to this Council shall first signify the fact, in writing, to the page 3 Secretary, who shall report the matter to the Council. If no objection be taken, and the conditions of initiation be fulfilled, the admission of such society or union shall be ordered and confirmed. Any society or union affiliating between the months of January and July, or July and January, shall pay the amount due as if they had been admitted at the beginning of the half-year; and every society so affiliated shall agree to, and abide by, the actions and decisions of this Council in all matters or questions requiring its intervention and judgment.

5.—Sustentation Fund.

The Sustentation Fund of this Council shall be maintained by the societies or unions affiliated paying the sum of sixpence per quarter for every member. Any society or union joining this Council after the first clay of January, 1882, shall pay an entrance-fee of sixpence per member. All subscriptions to be paid quarterly in advance.

6.—Nomination of Delegates.

Delegates appointed to this Council shall present their credentials (bearing the signatures of the chairman and secretary of their society or union), upon which they shall be received as members and their names enrolled on the books of the Council.

7.—Meetings.

The Council shall hold meetings on the third Wednesday in each month, and shall commence business at half-past seven o'clock in the evening. Special meetings may be summoned (on application to page 4 the Secretary) by any society or union in connection with the Council, should the cause be deemed of sufficient moment.

8.—Order of Proceedings.

Business of consequence, not specially provided for, may (by permission of the Chairman) be submitted at any stage of the proceedings.

No member shall speak more than once on the same motion, except in explanation or by permission of the Chairman. The mover of the motion only shall have the right of reply, after which the chairman shall put the question. A motion and amendment having been proposed, no second amendment shall be entertained until either the original motion or the first amendment has been disposed of.

9.—Management of Council.

The management of this Council shall be entrusted to certain officers, comprising a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two Trustees, who shall be elected every half-year, by open voting or ballot, as may be decided upon; and these officers shall respectively hold office until relieved by the installation of their successors. A Doorkeeper shall also be appointed at the half-yearly meetings.

10.—Duties of Office-bearers.

President.—The duties of the President shall he to preside at all meetings of the Council, to preserve order and decorum, and to exert authority in conducting the business of the Council. He shall have the same right of speaking and voting on any question under discussion as any other delegate, and shall have a casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote.

Vice President.—The Vice-President shall assist in maintaining order and attention in the Council; and in the absence of the President shall take the chair, invested with the powers of the President

Treasurer.—The Treasurer shall receive all moneys from the Secretary, giving receipts for the same in a book kept for that purpose; pay all accounts passed by the Council, signed by the Trustees, and countersigned by himself; and any balance above the sum of £5 shall be deposited by him in the bank within forty-eight hours of receipt thereof. He shall keep a proper cash-book, showing all receipts and expenditure of the funds of the Council. For these services he shall receive such remuneration as may be decided upon by the Council.

Secretary.—The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence, call all meetings of the Council required, and take minutes of the same; prepare a business paper for all meetings; receive all moneys, and hand over the same to the Treasurer within forty-eight hours of receipt thereof; keep proper accounts of all funds of the Council; prepare, and submit a half-yearly report and balance-sheet in July and an annual report and balance-sheet in January, both being properly page 6 audited and signed by the auditors, showing the receipts and expenditure, names and number of societies, and number of financial members in such societies, and forward a copy of the same to each society or union; keep all books considered necessary, and transact all general business of the Council. For his services he shall receive such remuneration as may be decided upon by the Council.

Auditors.—Two Auditors shall be appointed annually to examine the books of the Council, in conjunction with the Secretary and Treasurer.

11.—Pecuniary Aid.

In consideration and disposal of trade matters on the part of any society or union, such society or union, before taking any action likely to lead to a "strike," shall first consult the Council, who shall exercise discretionary power in recommending to the other societies or unions the propriety of contributing pecuniary assistance; but the Council shall not be expected to directly collect money or pay out of their own fund the expenses incurred in any difficulty. Should the case be urgent and the circumstances satisfactory the Council will endeavor to meet the views of the applicants in a favorable manner.

12.—Deputations and Conferences.

Should an important subject require the appointment of a deputation, the Council may select the members thereof from the delegates or other approved persons. Should a conference be requested to discuss or arbitrate upon any cause, the Council may nominate an equal proportion of members (representing trades or callings) to confer and arrange for the mutual benefits page 7 of employers and employes. Report of proceedings in these respects must be ratified by the Council to become valid. All deputations appointed by this Council to be paid for the loss of time incurred thereon.

13.—Notices of Motion.

Delegates to give notice of their intention to propose any motion, so that members of the Council generally shall have a reasonable opportunity of learn-the character and purport of the same.

14.—Reports.

A statement of the business and proceedings of the Council shall be published at least once in every twelve months, and copies supplied to every trade or calling represented.

15.—Alteration of Rules.

Any member of the Council desiring to alter, amend, or to add to any of these Rules shall give one month's clear notice in writing of his intention, when the question shall be taken into consideration at any regular or special meeting of the Council.

16.—Bye-Laws.

The Council shall, at any general or special meeting, be empowered to make such Bye-laws as may be considered necessary for the general welfare.