The Argus/1882/The proposed working men's college

by William E. Murphy

The proposed working men's college.

To the Editor of the Argus.

Sir—Will you permit me to reply to some excuses and a few complaints which have been urged by persons who have been solicited to subscribe to the fund now being raised to comply with the conditions of Mr. Ormond's generous offer—1st, that the proposed institution may drift from the purpose for which it is intended, 2nd, that an antagonistic feeling is displayed towards that class of labour in warehouses and soft goods establishments by the associated mechanical branches of industry, and which implies an improbability of these two classes working in unison in the interests of the project, third that the Trades-hall committee should have no share in the management. In meeting these objections, I desire to point out in the first place that it is a reflection on tho intelligence and wisdom of Mr Ormond and the gentlemen whom he has called to his aid to perfect his scheme, the primary feature of which is to place the preponderence of management in the hands of the working classes themselves, and if they permit that power to pass away from their hands and the college to merge into one of these so called "mechanics institutes or "blue coat schools, the working men of Victoria will exhibit a weakness of character as ridiculous as it is presumptive to assume it. In the second place, I most emphatically, and I might almost indignantly, deny that the mechanical branches of labour are actuated by such an unmanly sentiment as to bear hostility or an unkindly feeling towards their brethren, who unfortunately in too many instances stand more in need of their sympathy and support. On the contrary, the associated mechanics desire their full co-operation and their full share of representation in a scheme which, if it is not national, is nothing. The simple absurdity of the third objection is rather amusing, as it turns one back to the days when a Parliament in its wisdom enacted the "Statute of Labourers" and subsequent measures, by one of which it was provided that any person being convicted a third time of having joined a trade society should have one of his ears cut off. The Trades-hall committee seems to be a name of drastic import to some members of the community but permit me to say that it is after all a small body capable of much usefulness and amelioration and instead of being visited with offensive epithets and indecent contumely, it might be more prudent to inquire whether or not Mr. Ormond's proposal would have assumed the position it has had it not been for their action. The members of the committee are freely and gratuitously exerting themselves with the great body of the working classes, including a salesmen's and assistants union, of whom they are the representatives, to give effect to the grand idea of becoming possessed of another educational establishment in this city and for which generous people should accord praise and not inflict censure—I am &c.

WILLIAM E. MURPHY,
Secretary of the Trades'-hall Committee,
Trades'-hall, Aug 26