COLLINS, ANDREW (1850-1937) was born at Egham, near Windsor, England, and left school at the age of nine to earn a living bird-scaring. He was later apprenticed to a baker in London. In 1870 he came to Napier as steward in the Ballarat, and after another voyage in the Halcione (1872) settled in Wellington and worked at his trade. He helped to establish a bread bakers' union, four previous attempts having failed. This union first achieved permanence in 1888, and Collins was president for several years, during which the union entered into an agreement with the employers. He was secretary of the bakers' union for 45 years, and held office also in the sawmillers' union and the gardeners' union, and was president of the tailoresses' and pressers' union. He assisted to form the Wellington Trades and Labour Council (1888) and did much organising work throughout the colony. He was president of the Eight Hours demonstration committee for some years and was a director of the New Zealand Times, appointed to guard the interests of the workers. An ardent believer in trades unionism and conciliation, Collins was for 16 years a member of the conciliation board in Wellington. He retired from trades unionism in 1930 and died on 11 Nov 1937. He married (1874) Catherine L. Hutchison (Wellington).

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1932; Evening Post, 12 Nov 1937.

Reference: Volume 1, page 101

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