sent out to each affiliated union, together with a dummy newspaper, appealing for support for this object, and that the organiser proceed to each union affiliated, and that, in the event of £1,500 being forthcoming the committee be empowered to proceed.”
The only objection came from the Waihi delegates, who desired the project postponed till the following year.
I was instructed to cable R. S. Ross, of Melbourne, asking him whether or not he would be prepared to undertake editorial control. Mr. Ross replied agreeing to accept the position should it be offered to him.
A further resolution was carried that a Board of seven be set up, including President and Secretary; three to be elected from conference, and two experts from outside Conference. Messrs. Semple, Dowgray, and Hickey were elected to represent Conference, and Messrs. Hogg and Kraig were elected as the experts. What qualifications as experts either of these two gentlemen possessed I do not know, but evidently we imagined at that time that a journalist was au fait with the mechanical side of the printing trade.
Whilst Conference was in session, Mr. M. Laracy, then secretary, N.Z. Shearers’ Union, waited upon delegates and informed them that his organisation had decided to launch a monthly issue of a paper to be called “The Maoriland Worker.” The paper was to be published in Christchurch and edited by Miss Ettie Rout, a lady who, as lecturer and author, has since that time won considerable fame in Britain.
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