Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

7 articles on this Page

MEETING OF PAINTERS AT CADOXTON.

News
Cite
Share

MEETING OF PAINTERS AT CADOXTON. STIRRING ADDRESSES. On Mondav evening a meeting: of the Painters' Branch of the Amalgamated Trades' Union of Barry Dock was held at the Witchill Hotel, Cadox- ton. The objects of the meeting were to strengthen the position of the branch, and to hear addresses from Mr. Lamplough, of the London Council; Mr. Howell. Mr. W. Copp. &c. Mr. Thomas Thomas (Soi'th 71 ales Star") pre- sided. and, in the course of his opening address. said he was very glad to see so many there, and glad to think that their meeting was not to de- clare war against the masters, as they had last winter, but under more favourable circumstances —to try and get better organisation. They should be -prepared, and be strong at times even when they did not require strength because when the oppon- ents found they were strong they were less likely to be attacked. It was the duty of all Unionists to be constantly at work. (Hear, he?,r.) As society men it was not good at times of dispute to be over-enthusiastic, and at slack times to forget their enthusiasm. They should always be at work, and so be good Unionists. (Applause.) Not many years ago Trades' Unionists were almost regarded as criminals, but to- day, instead of the Trades' Unionists being regarded as criminals, a man who would not join with his fellow-workmen was considered a blackle" By being a blackleg a man admitted that he was not self confident, or could not do his work properly. The Chairman claimed that Trades Unionism was a great friend to all good and fair masters. It provided them with better workmen, and sheltered them from unscrupulous individuals. (Hear, hear.) It was also a protec- tion for workmen against unfair masters, and he enumerated the various advantages of Trades' Unionism, and what it had done for sailors, oolliers, &c. Members of their society felt their position as respectable men. and acted as such. In conclusion. Mr. Thomas said Trades' Unionism would never be felt as it ought to be until they had proper representatives on all public bodies. They were fortunate enough to have three representa- tives on the Burial Board—(laughter)—and they also had one on the School Board, but they would not be contented until they had one or more re- presentatives on the Local Board. (Loud ap- plause.) Mr. Lamplough next gave a very interesting address. He complimented the local Executive and the secretary (Mr. Howells) on their action durino- the strike of last winter. (Applause.) Everything- had been carried out m a grand manner which had had the approval of the London Executive. Mr. Howell's accounts were always fair and square, and not a farthing was spent above what the exigencies of the case demanded. He congratulated the men on having a strong back so that they had been able to hold out against the indignities offered them by the masters. There were some branches weak enough to cave in to the masters as soon as they were attacked. In illustration of this he instanced the action of the Dudley branch, and the result that followed, which, he said, in his opinion, they deserved. If they had followed the example of Barry their position would have been very different. They were there that evening to consider the position they had taken up. Trades' Unionism was defensible, it was worthy of defence, and worth putting their twopence a week into the funds Thev"were there to consider whether the Amalgamated Society had enough backbone to help on all its members when strikes occurred, and to consider how to get all outside their ranks in. (Hear, hear.) Sometimes the masters said they •couli1 not stand this Trades' Union, and took up a position accordingly when the difficulties occurred. If the masters looked at the thing from a. business point of view they would be staunch Trades' Unionists. He believed, as they all believed, in competition, and but for competition the world would not wag but they were foes to unfair compe- tition. (Applause.) They were quite prepared to back up anv masters if they were put into a tight place by any unfair competitors. (Applause.) Unfair competition was what all masters suffered from-the best masters especially—the men in business who were prepared to allow to their men fair conditions and fair remuneration for the article they had to put in the market. Generally speaking a master had to put in contract prices for the work, and if the masters would recognise none but union rates they would start fair in the -competition.. They would feel that the competi- tion would be fair because they would know the prices of the materials, and the) prices they would have to pay for labour. (Applause.) Masters should consider it just in the same rate as they had to contend with unfair competition, so had the unionists to contend with unfair non- unionists. The speaker next dwelt on the subject from a financial point of view, and deduced the many advantages gained by belonging to both the trade and benefit branches of the society. What, .however, they wanted to look at was not how it would serve them when they had died, but how they were going to live by it. (Hear, hear.) Their trade was their bread and butter; and the trade society stepped. in between an unscrupulous set of employers and the workmen, and said We -stand as buffers between your action and the men." Where would the men have been when they were taken to the Cardiff police-court if the society had not stepped in ? They would have been knocked down as nonentities. But the society stepped in and said We are as big as you and have some- body as big as you are to defend us." (Applause.) After declaiming with some warmth on the action of the blacklegs, Mr. Lamplough made a flattering reference to the press, and concluded with an earnest appeal to the men to stick together, and work steadily for the cause of Trades' Unionism (Applause.) Mr. Howells, who was warmly received, next gave an earnest address. He said he was pleased to see so many painters there.- and glad they were all Unionists, but he should like to see the eight or ten non-Unionist men working in Messrs. Morgan's shop there, too. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that Barry would not be last in Trades Unionism. They had representatives on the Burial and School Boards, and they were not going to rest contented until they had representatives on the Local Board; and then, after they had completed that, they must get a Labour candidate into Parliament for that division of the county. He regretted the weakness of the Masons' Branch of the Union, and quoted an instance where men had been kept at work up to 9.30 in the evening without receiving extra pay. (" Shame.") In alluding to the manner in which the painters stuck together in the strike Mr. Howells said only one man out of the 45 turned blackleg. (Applause.) He had been a marked man amongst the employers since the strike. A little time ago, when he was away, one of them inquired where he was. A friend replied, Gone away; but he is coming back- again." "Oh." said the employer, I thought he was home driving the plough If he had been doing eo he should not be ashamed. Next he alluded to the case of Mr. H. Davies, and said they need not go to Ireland for coercion they could see at home. and it, must be stopped. (Hear. hear.) The only em- plovers who could not see their way clear to sign the agreement with them were Messrs. Morgan and Dando. but lie hoped they soon would. Mr. Howells next referred to the payment given, and said he eould take them to a town where an em- ployer made a fortune in ten years, whilst his men had to toil on, year after year, on a scanty pittance, and at the end would not be much better off than when they commenced. ("Shame.") In their own towns their employers were able to take trips to France, race meetings, football matches, festivals, whilst they who toiled were obliged to be economical to keep good food and good clothes, and could not get into Cardiff more than once in a month at the most. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he expressed his pleasure at being able to do any- thing for the Society. Mr. Copp followed with a characteristic address, at the conclusion of which Mr. Howells proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Lamplough—Mr. William Greenwood seconded, and the proposition was cirried unanimously. ,T r, Votes of thanks were also passed to Mr. Copp and the Chairman, which were acknowledged.—Mr. John Miles moved a resolution, "That this meet- ing of the painters of Cadoxton-Barry is of opinion that it is an absolute necessity that they Ibe members of the Trades' Union, and pledges itself to uphold its members." — Mr. Peters seconded, and it was carried unanimously.—A vote of thanks to the representatives of the Press, which w" acknowledged by Mr. Llewellyn Williams and Mr. Llewellyn, terminated the pro- ceedings.

COTTAGE HOSPITAL ANDi NURSING…

PENARTH POLICE COURT.

THEFT OF MONEY AT CADOXTON.

MANOR FARM DAIRY, DAUny. I1

Advertising

[No title]