The Builders' And Contractors' Association Of Canterbury ranks amongst the strongest and most influential of New Zealand trade societies. It was established in 1890, but remained inactive till 1895, when it was reorganised in accordance with the requirements of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act passed in 1894. The object of the association is to protect the interests of builders and contractors, and to support and promote the best interests of the trades. Since its resuscitation in 1895, the association has been extremely popular with tradesmen, and has promoted a stronger feeling of friendly cooperation amongst them. Its membership now numbers about 150. The association occupies a large furnished room at 141 Hereford Street, where numerous trade journals and other suitable publications are kept for the use of members. Meetings for business purposes are held at this office monthly. The officers of the association are elected at a special meeting, held annually in the month of April, Officers for the year 1901–2: H. Pearce, president; J. Harrison and W. H. Bowen, vice-presidents; James Greig, secretary; and R. L. Scott, treasurer.

The Amalgamated Society Of Engineers, Christchurch Branch, Inglis Buildings, corner of Cashel and High Streets, Christchurch. The first office of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers was established in Manchester, England, in 1851, by prominent engineers of that time, amongst them being Messrs William Allan and William Newton. The object of the promoters was to organise a society which should be representative of the various iron trades, act as a general governing body, provide weekly benefits for members unable to obtain employment or out of work through sickness, also compensation for accidents and the creation page 273 of a superannuation fund. One of its other objects was the improvement of the conditions of labour. Probably no organised body of tradesmen has developed so rapidly as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, which is now represented in almost every centre of population throughout the world, and has 91,000 members. The Christchurch branch was founded early in 1874, the late Mr. Moses Scott being among its first promoters. It now has upwards of eighty members. Meetings for business purposes are held fortnightly and quarterly for the election of officers. The present officers are: G. H. Watson, president; N. Orton, secretary; D. A. Moore, treasurer.

The Canterbury Grocers' Assistants' Industrial Union Of Workers was established in 1898, with Mr. James Gresham as its first president. In December. 1899, it was found, by a decision given by Judge Martin, that the Union, as constituted, did not come under the meaning of the Act and so was devoid of legal standing. It was accordingly reorganised in November, 1900, and since that date has done good work in the interests of the trade. The objects of the union are to counteract influences working against the interests of its members, to sweep away abuses, initiate reforms, and generally to guard and further the best interests of the trade, and also to create and maintain a more friendly feeling among the employees. It has already aided in reducing the hours of labour, and is labouring for the introduction of further improvements, now under discussion. Meetings are held for business purposes monthly, at the Trade Hall, Inglis' Buildings, Cashel Street. The officers of the Union for the year ending in September, 1902, were: Mr. E. H. Wood, president; Messrs Allan, Wilson, and Isaac Thomson, vice-presidents; Mr J. M. Bunt, secretary; Mr. George Gilkes, treasurer. There is also a committee of seven members.

Mr. John Martin Bunt, Secretary of the Canterbury Grocers' Assistants' Industrial Union of Workers, was elected to that position in May, 1901, and re-elected in September of the same year. Mr. Bunt has been a member of the Union since its inception, and a great deal of its success is due to his untiring energy and able management. He has been chosen to represent the Union in cases in dispute and also at various conferences. Mr. Bunt was born in Christchurch, in 1880, educated at the Normal School, and at the age of fourteen entered the Workingmen's Co-operative stores as office boy in the grocery department. By hard work and perseverance he gradually gained promotion, and now (1902) he occupies the post of first counter hand in the same department. Mr. Bunt is at present secretary of the Primitive Methodist Literary and Debating Society; he is a member of the Christchurch Prohibition League, and was for eighteen months a private in the Christchurch City Rifles. He is also one of the representatives of his Union on the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. J. M. Bunt.

The Master Painters' Industrial Union Of Employers, Christchurch, was founded in the interests of master painters, and is now (1902) one of the most active and influential trade unions in Christchurch. He objects are to protect the interests of master painters, and to work for the betterment of general trade conditions, Up to the year 1894, however, it experienced various ups and downs of fortune; it had enjoyed several prosperous years, but its career could not be called a successful one. However, towards the end of 1894, it was entirely reorganised, and since then it has done valuable work for the trade. The Union has helped to found a class, held three nights a week, for the instruction of young painters. This class does invaluable service by raising the intelligence of workmen and improving the quality of their work. Amongst other improvements initiated by the Union, the retail price list, which it drew up some years ago, has proved of great usefulness as a guide for members. Meetings of the members take place quarterly at Otley's Hall, Gloucester Street. Business matters, affecting the trade, are discussed, and articles, from various trade journals, are read with a view to keeping the members abreast of the times. The annual meeting for the election of officers is held in the month of July. The present officers are: C. Duggan, president; W. Sey and J. A. Paton, vice-presidents; W. H. Macdougall, secretary and treasurer.

The Plasterers' Union, Christchurch, was established in 1897 for the purpose of preserving and, where possible, advancing the best interests of tradesmen. The union's objects are to counteract influences working against the interests of its members, to sweep away abuses, and initiate reforms calculated to raise the standard of the trade. Since its establishment the union has been the means of raising wages from six to eleven page 274 shillings a day, without the assistance of the Arbitration Court or Conciliation Board, or prejudice to the relations between workmen and employers. The membership of the union now numbers forty-five. Meetings are held fortnightly at Otley's Hall, Gloucester Street, and the officers are elected at a special meeting held half-yearly in the months of January and June. The present officers are: E. Brocker, president; J. Thomas, vice-president; R. J. Trivett, secretary; and William George, treasurer.

The Christchurch Tailoring Trades Industrial Union Of Workers is one of the most prosperous and, in point of membership, one of the largest industrial unions in New Zealand, It was established in 1897 with about fifty members, but now (1902) with 309 members, its list includes the names of over seventy-five per cent, of the total number of tradesmen in the province. The Union's object is the proper regulation of the tailoring business with a view to advancing the social condition of its members, the management of trade disputes, and the general protection of the best interests of employees. Its influence extends over only the ordered tailoring section of the trade. Monthly meetings are held for business purposes at No. 22, Inglis' Buildings, High Street. Officers for 1902: Mr C. G. Whiteman, president; Mr. J. N. Tucker, vice-president; Mr. Gohns, secretary; and Mr. William Godfrey, treasurer. There is also a managing committee of eight members.

Mr. Ernest William Frederick Gohns was appointed Secretary of the Christchurch Tailoring Trades Industrial Union of Workers in 1897, at the time of its inception. He has always taken a deep interest in the Union, and has done much to advance it to its present state of efficiency. As its delegate to the Trades Council, of the executive of which he is a member, he has taken a prominent part in the settlement of disputes. Mr Gohns was born in England in 1868, and is a son of Mr. Frederick Gohns, compositor. He arrived in New Zealand in 1876, was educated at the Sydenham Public School, and afterwards apprenticed to the tailoring trade. In 1893 he was appointed foreman in the workroom of the firm of Messrs F. Hobbs and Co., and held the position till March, 1902, when he resigned to accept a better appointment. Mr. Gohns is a musician of note and plays several instruments. He was married, in 1889, to Miss R. Whitford, of Christchurch, and has three daughters and two sons.

Old Mill, Lincoln Road. Photo by E. E. Wright.