Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1894-02-16 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

SPIRIT OF COMBINATION.  If only for this it had been of great advantage to the toilers of this country—(applause). Wherever a trade orgardeation existed he believed it was th. the duty of every member of the trade to j,n it. It was not right to those who were fighting the battles of a trade, and who were paying their money regularly, that others should benefit in the same way and yet not contribute anything. They ought to be taxed to support the association because they derived more benefit from it. than from a local improvement rate, for bat/tree, which they wero ferced to pay. R.ferring to queatione of dispute he remarked that c.me masters refused to receive representatives of an association' and said they preferred to settle a grievance with their own workmen. He thought that wherever an &epochal°t existed disputes should be reported to then:, and that the accredited representatives should -wait upoa the employer. There was always • certain amount of influence, and a workman could not alaaya approach his employer and tell him what he rea.ly thought. He gave an it stance of this feeling prevailing on the part of Messrs. Bright Biroc., of Rochdale. in reference to a recent diapute as to priees. He himself had to wait upon the time, and on doing so he showed them from his point of view the inconsistency of thir attitude. He was glad to say that the list if prices was compared; he had been thanked for hi. services, and an advance of 7i per cent, woe conceded—(applause). None of the employees in this case wished to wait upon the firm theinsev,s. He believed the time was coming when the masters would not desire to setae itfarences except thron4b the trade associations. There was ANOTHER SIDE TO THE PICTURE, however; for trade unionism and combinsii,m, although they had doe many things, had not accomplished everything that was desirable to solve the social problem, After referring to the two strikes of the past year, he said that his solution of labour questions was by honest combination, accompanied by honest co-operation. Trade Unions were saving up their capital week by week, but why shoulu they not invest it in various trades? It was • principal that was being developed, and one which he thought woul i be developed to a greater extent in the future. He had recently been to • co-operative conference at Burnley, and had found out that there were 30 or 40 industries that were worked ou the co-operative principle. There was one firm, the Leicester Co-operative Hosiery Society, which he ascertained, was commenced in a little shop by sixteen workmen. In 1887, the turnover was £l,OOO, and it had rapidly increased, until in 1893 it reached £32,000. The manager told him that no one ever left, and nobody was ever taken on, except in case of death or extension of the business. At Nelson they had over £l,OOO in the bank, on which they were receiving, perhaps, '2i or 2i per cent. What was there to prevent them, for Instance, from getting 100 looms and developing the trade for their own benefit? Adverting to  THE EIGHT HOURS QUESTION, he expressed his belief that ultimately eight hours would become general, just as nine hours had done, hut he was of opinion that there was something In the cry of foreign competition. He had talked with • men who had been out in Italy getting looms ready, and he was assured that the people worked from six o'clock in the morning to nine at night; and yet standing at two looms they would only earn 3s. 2d. per week—(" shame "). Foreign coal. petition was worthy of consideration by them, aff trade unionists, Their duty wee to give in for some time on this eight hours questioo, until the principles of trade udioaism were thoroughly developed amongst the workers abroad. As to their duty at a general election, he was not one of those who advocated • policy of political suicide, simply because he could not always get all he wanted from the political parties. He did not recommend atetection from the poll. He advised every working man to judge for himself what was the right course to alopt. They must take advantage of everything that was offered which was likely to promote their true interests. By doing so, they would ultimately attain the goal it was their ambition to reach, when they would be.looked upon not only as workers, but aa cce.partners in the trades they were helping to build up—(applame ) In proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Catterall, on behalf of the committee and members, Mr. Fred Plows said they owed hlm • debt of gratitude, not only for present but pest services. He advised the members to stick together and endeavour to strengthen their position. They should do their beet to support the officers, and try and induce non-unionists to become members—(hear, hear). Mr. R. Hardisty seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.  During the evening, songs were successfully rendered by Mesars. S. H. Smith, A. Dyson, J. Dewburst, J. Atkinson, F. Bailey, J. Harra.an, J. Lister, and R Hardiaty ; and recitations were given by Mr. W. Lambert. Mr. A. H. Penton was the accompanist.