The South Wales Star

MAY LABOUR DAY AT BARRY. The first annual May Labour Day conference and public meeting were held on Monday last in connection with the Barry Trades and Labour Council. The gathering was an encouraging one, especially so in the face of the fact, as has been declared, the solidarity of labour all over the -world is a phenomenon of the present time, and one that differentiates it from every period which preceded it. Everywhere the voices of those who toil are calling and responding to each other. There is a common movement amongst them, and A common aspiration which bode important things —good or evil, as the opportunity may be em- ployed. The aspiration is for a higher standard of life, better wages, shorter hours of labour, more leisure, more culture, more humane and civilised conditions of living. A peculiar responsibility rests upon the British labour advocates in this matter. The position of the labour cause in England is in every respect far ahead of what it is in any other country. A. Government has come into power which has done more within that period for the protection and emancipation of the working classes than was done probably within the previous ten years. These advantages place the British workers, as it were, in the vanguard of the labour movement. The example they show may greatly determine the course of labour reform throughout the rest of the world. CONFERENCE OF TRADE REPRESENTATIVES. The proceedings opened at three o'clock with a conference at the Assembly Room of the Victoria Hotel. Barry Dock, when the president of the Trades' Council (Mr T. S. Thomas) occupied the chair, supported by Mr E. Harford (general .secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants), Mr F. A. Fox (secretary of the Boiler- makers' Iron and Steel Ship Builders), Mr J. Rees (Labour member and deputy-chairman of the School Board and chairman of the Burial Board), Mr J. Curie (secretary of the Bristol Trades' Council). Mr F. Walls (vice-president of the Trades' Council), and Mr W. P. Clark (secretary of the Trades' Council and president of the Cadoxton Section of the Typographical Association). There were also present-Messrs W. Paterson (Labour member of the Local Board), J. J. Atkins (Bristol branch of the Typographical Association), Morgan Nicholas, F. Huelin (secretary Barry Dock Liberal Club and Institute), J. Hewitt, J. H. Jose, J. Lovering, W. Copp, W. H. Harper. J. Pitt, Shepherd (secretary Barry Branch of the Amal- gamated Society of Railway Servants), Brown, Tame (secretary of the Coal Trimmers' Associa- tion). H. S. Rendell (secretary Masons' Society), W. W. Fookes (assistant secretary Barry Trades' Council), Bothfield. J. Wheaton, H. Fisher, Howells (secretary Barry Branch of the Boiler- makers' Society), W. Motton, W. Parry, A. Williams. J. Williams, E. Williams, J. Matthews, W. Williams, J. Cockran, T. Cochran, H. Curtis, H. Day, W. Rowe, M. Payne, &c. The Chairman, in opening, said the company must be aware of the purpose for which they were there that afternoon. It was to endeavour to Advance the cause of labour and organisation in the district. They were specially called to discuss the best means of promoting labour representation also to consider the question of a legal working- day of ei»ht hours, whieh were questions that affected them very much in their particular trade. (Cheers.) LABOUR REPRESENTATION AND ORGANISATION. Mr F. A. Fox (Boilermakers' Society) in opening the discussion upon labour representation, said the question of labour representation and organisation were questions of such importance that they would be guilty of a dereliction of duty as representatives of the workers if they failed at any time to raise their voices in furtherance of these objects. (Hear. hear.) The question of labour representa- tton had long been before the country, and they found a consensus of opinion amongst the work- ing-classes in favour of a material increase in their representatives in the British Parliament and piblic bodies in their own towns. (Cheers.) In conjunction with the question of labour representation, whether on town or county councils, boards of guardians, school boards, or in Parliament, they must consider that of payment of representatives. The working-classes, as a rule, were not men of money, and going to the House of Commons without being State-paid would be taxing those who represented a popula- tion that were already taxed to a state of insolvency. (Cheers.) The working-classes had been cajoled by the capitalists, and anything like A scheme for the payment of the members of Parliament would be bitterly and stubbornly opposed, not only by their enemies in the Lower House, but it would also meet with inveterate opposition if it reached the House of Lords, who never missed an opportunity to keep down the working-classes. These parties knew that if the working-classes could only prevail upon the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer to include in his budget the payment of members of Parliament there would be a substantial increase in labour representation. And it was only want of funds that had prevented long the workers being properly represented. (Hear, hear.) They had in the ranks of labour meu infinitely better fitted to set forth their cause than many of superior education. (Hear, hear.) It was the duty of the working-classes to endeavour to assist in promoting a better state of representa- tion, but that could not be accomplished without proper organisation. (Cheers.) Working-men of both political parties, whatever their other differences might be, should have the one common aim of complete organisation for the purpose of increased representation. (Hear, hear.) When did they find true working-men appointed by the people failing to fulfil their promises ? Certain inducements were put forward to one of the labour representatives in the House of Commons not long ago to barter away his principles, but the endeavour was entirely unsuccessful. (Cheers.) Mr Fox spoke of the increased influence of the working community of the country, and gave credit to the Government for the measures intro- duced, and in several instances passed, for the benefit of the workers, and. he added, both Liberals and Conservatives were now seeing the force of labour representatives in Parliament. (Cheers.) Working-men had been raised to the magisterial bench and other important positions. They should not be satisfied with this, however, but keep agitating until their rights to increased representa- tion in Parliament and on all public bodies had been fully recognised. (Hear, hear.) Referring to the Employers' Liability Bill, Mr Fox said this measure would never have been introduced were it not for the labour representation in Parliament, and it was a great pity that the Bill was not passed. (Hear, hear.) The speaker was in favour of the insertion of a second ballot clause in the Registration Bill, and concluded by stating the working-classes should blame themselves entirely for being kept down so long, and he would impress them with the need of sound organisation and the establishment of a fund to secure the representa- tion they were rightly entitled to, especially in the House of Commons, which was absolutely essential for the betterment of the working-clauses. (Applause.) Mr J. Curie (Bristol Trades Council) spoke of the subject as a most important one for the in- creased benefit of the working-classes, and one that was occupying the attention of the workers throughout the country. (Hear, hear). He agreed that tiio key lay in the payment of members, and he trusted an agitation would be set on foot throughout the United Kingdom in support of this. (Cheers.) Mr J. Rees followed, and said that although the Barry district was young the working-men had been very successful in securing representation upon local bodies. The Trades Council was opened on the 15th May, 1892, and had been the means of having clauses inserted in the forms of contract of the two principal public bodies at Barry for the payment of a fair rate of wages, and other matters in accordance with the principles of trades unionism. (Applause.) After speaking in .favour of payment of members of Parliament, Mr H+M i^rged the working-men of the district to in- :».- rease their representation of the public bodies at I :oming elections, particularly on the Parish I Council. (Cheers.) Mr W. Paterson (member of the Local Board) laid he had long regretted that the labour party in ihis district did not see the advantages of placing nore representatives on the public bodies, which le knew they were capable of doing. (Hear, iear.) Mr J. H. Jose remarked the objects of these gatherings should be to create a feeling of confi- ience between working-men. (Hear, hear.) If bhey had the confidence in one another that they placed in employers the result would be beneficial all round, and he felt the men should sink all prejudices and be more united, and their chances for increased representation would be much more hopeful and satisfactory. (Cheers.) Mr F. Walla (vice-president of the Trades Council) could not, he said, see how to elevate the struggling masses of humanity without organisa- tion. (Hear, hear.) They wanted more labour members in Parliament in order to secure the passing of the measure for one man one vote and other progressive legislation. Since he had been a member of the council he had learnt a great deal in connection with his fellow-men. (Hear, hear.) He had had something to do lately in connection with the master builders in this district, and had found that after promising to do this and that for their workmen they had utterly failed in every promise. The working-men, therefore, should unite together and demand the liberties to which they were rightly entitled. (Applause.) Mr W. Harper said he should like to have seen someone from Cardiff present to explain why there were so few labour representatives on the Cardiff Town Council. (Hear, hear.) He disagreed with the appointment of the Marquess of Bute as Mayor of Cardiff, for anything for the benefit of the working-classes he would set his foot upon, but promoted his own interests as much as possible. (Hear, hear.) Mr W. Copp having spoken, the discussion was declared closed. THE EIGHT HOURS' DAY QUESTION. Mr E. Harford said this subject was one calling for careful attention, not only from the working classes, but also from the general public. (Hear, hear.) He was one of the latest converts to a legal working day of eight hours. He had been identified for over twenty-one years in endeavour- ing to shorten the hours of the class with which he was connected. If the men rose to the occasion there were none more powerful than they to attain success. They had not, however, and he was sorry to find that for the purposes of greed hundreds of men were willing to work overtime for the few extra shillings it brought in. There were several methods by which the eight hours day could be obtained, namely, trades' option, trades' exemption, or by legal enactment, and the latter probably would meet the difficulty most securely. He did not care by what method it was obtained, but he believed that a legal eight hours the working-men of the country were determined to have, and the men were the parties to settle the question. (Cheers.) It was quite time for them to reflect on the fact that where they had one labour representative in the House of Commons for the carrying of this measure there were fifty capitalists who were mainly returned by working- men. What effect would a legal eight hours' day have upon the working-men of the country ? Experience showed it would not be the means of driving trade away, or reducing the wages and production, but rather matters would greatly improve all round. (Hear, hear.) So far as his own party was concerned, there was no branch of the working community that had suffered as they had from overtime. There had recently, he added, been a Railway Regulation Act, which recognised the organisa- tions of the railway servants, and this Act had been accepted as an instalment towards the shortening of the hours of labour. The speaker referred to the need of increased legislation in this matter, and, having spoken of the reduction of the hours of labour in the textile industry without any unsatisfactory result whatever, Mr Harford said the only method they had up to the present to achieve their aims had been by means of strikes. Strikes were a barbarous method of bringing about a settlement, but they would last as long as there was no proper organisation. (Hear, hear.) Mr Harford added that, if organised, the working classes could accomplish all they desired, and in view of the reforms so urgently required in connection with hours of labour and other respects, he considered it was to their interests to band stoutly together. (Applause.) Mr Morgan Nicholas said he was undecided in the matter, especially with regard to its working in some trades, but, undoubtedly, it would prove a great boon to the working classes in general if a legal eight hours day was in force. (Hear, hear.) Before they applied to Parliament to pass this, he thought that they, as working-men, should show that they appreciated shorter hours. (Hear, hear.) As a railwayman, he spoke with some experience, and he had seen supposed prominent trades' unionists working long overtime—(" Shame ")- and many of his fellow-workmen were only too pleased and anxious, and, in fact, asked to work long hours. There were different opinions in the matter, Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., for instance, having stated that eight hours from bank to bank would not work in South Wales, and Mabon was of opinion that it would. Mr Nicholas also referre 1 to the good work accomplished by the A.S.R.S. in connection with the Taff Vale Railway. The Chairman and Mr J. Hewitt having declared themselves in favour of the movement, Mr Jose remarked he was not decided on the question, but when they saw men like Mr Harford turn in favour of the principle it was time, he thought, for the younger heads to do the same. (Cheers.) He would not object to an eight-hours day, but considered it would be much better to establish the same by the workers uniting together and obtaining it by their own power. (Hear, hear.) Messrs W. Harper, W. W. Fookes, H. Fisher, J. Pitt, and J. J. Atkins (Bristol) also approved of the proposed change in working hours, the latter remarking he had seen by the reports in the Barry Dock News that the trades' unionists at Barry were well organised. (Hear, hear.) At the close of the discussion, Mr Jose proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and delegates, which was seconded by Mr J. Rees, and carried unanimously. A luncheon was afterwards held in the assembly- room, at which the delegates and friends were present, and Mr Harford presided. PUBLIC MEETING AT THE IDDESLEIGH HALL,CADOXTON. A public meeting was held in the evening at the Iddesleigh-hall. Cadoxton, Mr J. H. Jose presiding, and amongst those who supported him on the platform were Messrs E. Harford (general secre- tary of the Railway Servants' Society); F. A. Fox (secretary of the Boilermakers' Society), T. S. Thomas (president of the Barry Trades' Council), W. W. Fookes, W. Harper, W. P. Clark (secretary), and other representatives of trade and labour in the district. In the body of the hall were Mr and Mrs M. Nicholas, Mrs Price, Mrs Clark, Mrs Curtis, Mrs Harper, Mrs Tame, Rev W. Tibbott, Messrs W. Miller, G. M. McGregor, W. Copp, B. Lewis (junr.), A. Found. J. H. Nelmes, D. Morgan, D. Hamer, J. Phillips, R. G. Russell, J. Harrison, H. H. Russell, &c. The Chairman, in opening, read letters and telegrams of apology for absence from Mr Arthur J. Williams, M.P. for South Glamorgan Mr Keir Hardie, M.P.; Mr J. Havelock Wilson, M.P.; Messrs W. G. Tunley, delegate of the Amalgamated Saciety of Carpenters and Joiners J. Curie, Bristol, &c. Mr Arthur Williams telegraphed Extremely sorry I cannot be with you. You know how strongly I sympathise with the workers. Tell the meeting that I have just completed Jury Bill, by which working-men's cases may be tried by a real common jury of their fellows, not by a class jury, and by which the juror will receive fair payment for his services. Proceeding, the Chairman said he regretted the gentlemen named—men who occupied positions in the forefront in connection with the labour questions of the day-were not able to be present on that occasion, and to assist them in the good work of breaking the boads which bound the working-classes in thraldom to the upper classes. (Cheors.) As trade unionists they were engaged n a great struggle of Socialism which would tend ,o elevate the working-men of the country. (Hear, iear.) Mr T. S. Thomas proposed the following resolu- tion :— That this meeting rejoices at the growing solidarity yf labour in all civilised countries, and, believing that the time as come when Trades Union effort must be supplemented by independent political action, would urge upon all workers the immediate necessity for the following:—(1) State payment of members in order to secure an adequate representation of labour in the Imperial Parliament. (2) The limitation by law of the hours of labour to ieight per day, or 48 per week, with the proviso that any trade or occupation shall bo exempt if two-thirds majority of the organised members thereof protest by ballot against the same. (3) The re-introduction by the Government of the Employers' Liability Bill, to test the ultimate decision of the peers We further declare that the House of Lords, by their persistent opposition to the labour legislation, is a stumbling-block to the welfare and progress of the industrial population of this country. Dealing with the resolution, Mr Thomas said working-men could not be expected to give their services as representatives of the people without pay, and it was their duty to urge upon Parlia- ment the duty of legalising the State payment of members, for in this way the working-men would have a fair proportion of direct representatives in the House of Commons. (Cheers.) Referring to the proposed legalisation of an eight hours' working day, the speaker said it was impossible to secure these advantages by trade union efforts, for wages were governed by those out of work, and until there was a fair distribution of the labour of the country they could not hope to have improved conditions. (Hear, hear.) The Employers' Liability Bill recently introduced by the Government was one of the most democratic measures that could have been brought forward, and if it had been passed many hundreds of pounds would already have been paid by way of compensation which now lay in the pockets of the capitalists. (Cheers.) The great stumbling-block in the way of legisla- tive reform was the House of Lords, which never acceded to the demands of the representatives of the people except by sheer force. (Applause, and a cry of Down with them.") The working-men were the producers of the wealth of the country, and as such they were entitled to due representa- tion. He did not say they might eleot a labour member for this division, but until they could do this they should try to get their member to do all in his power to advance the oanse of labour. (Applause.) Mr W. Copp seconded, and in the course of his remarks urged the duty of united action, and said if more labour members could be returned to the Imperial Parliament a suitable Employers' Liability Bill would be passed. This Bill must be re-introduced, and the House of Peers would probably think twice before they dared throw it out again. (Cheers.) Mr F. A. Fox, in support, dwelt at length in able terms upon the necessity for complete organ- isation. The man who remained passive and inactive in the present day was not worthy the name of trade unionist. There was no reason why any man should remain outside the pale of trade societies. (Cheers.) He did not say that union men were always better workmen than non-union men, but he did maintain that unionism provided means for mutual development and advancement which unorganised labour could not enjoy. (Hear, hear.) Mr Fox went on to give a lengthy table of official statistics prepared by the Board of Trade showing that trade union workers invariably received a higher rate of wages than non-union men, details of which have already appeared in our columns. They could not expect an aristocratic Parliament to give them concessions which working-men could obtain for themselves if properly represented. (Cheers.) The defeats experienced by labour during the past few years were solely due to want of combination. Non- society men were the greatest enemy of labour interests in the country, and he appealed to the industrial classes in general to extricate themselves from this stigma. (Applause.) Organised labour were prepared to adopt two coarses, either to conciliate unorganised labour or to annihilate it. Working-men must join in the work of their own deliverance, other- wise they could not hope the light of freedom and prosperity to dawn upon them. (Renewed cheers.) The Registration Bill now before Parliament would materially strengthen the hands of the masses, and would lead to a radical change in the constitution of the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) Mr Fox concluded by urging the working- men of Barry to support the Trades Council of the district. Mr Edward Harford, who was well received on rising, also supported, and gave a lucid explanation of the advantages which would accrue to the work- ing-classes by means of an eight hours day, adding that when the proposal became law it would be the duty of the labour interests to see that inspectors were appointed to have the Act carefully carried out. He strongly advocated the payment of Parliamentary representatives, and described the eight hours question as a perfectly practical measure. The workers, he said, must have reasonable time for rest, recreation, and civil and religious duties, which had been the pride of every British workman to possess. (Hear, hear.) With the advance of education, men and women were beginning to realise that they were not mere wage and dividend earning machines. It was useless to contribute by means of rates towards the maintenance of public libraries, mechanics' institutes, museums, and such like institutions unless working-men had an opportunity to enjoy them, and he might point out that in connection with the railway servants of Great Britain alone the adoption of the eight hours system would give employment to 60,000 or 70,000 men who were at present idle. (Cheers.) Speaking of the railway strikes of the past few years, Mr Harford said they had been thrust upon the men by the companies, but he was glad that organised labour had again come forth victorious. He fully con- curred with the action of the Government in withdrawing the Employers' Liability Bill after it had been so ruthlessly mutilated, and he con- sidered the step taken by the Government was both a bold and noble one. There should, in his opinion, be no limit at all provided for in the Act, but it should be left to the jury to decide. Mr Harford proceeded to criticise at considerable length the relations which existed between the London and North Western Railway and the men in their employ, denouncing the insurance system of that department of the railway service, and said that by permitting contracting-out clauses to be introduced into the Employers' Liability Bill the working-men would be deprived of one of its strongest elements. (Applause.) The resolution was put to the meeting and carried with acclamation. The Chairman then expressed a hope that the meeting that evening would be productive of great good to the working-men of Barry, and trusted they would continue to organise effectually, so that they might be able to present a strong and formidable front against the common enemy. (Cheers.) On the motion of Mr Harford, seconded by Mr W. Harper, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman for presiding, and on the motion of Mr T. S. Thomas hearty cheers were given for the speakers, and the proceedings terminated.