TRADES COUNCILS’ CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2612, 21 September 1909, Page 2

TRADES COUNCILS’ CONFERENCE

AGENDA PAPER DISCUSSED BY EAST COAST COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the East Coast Track's and Labor Council was he.cl on Saturday evening to discuss the agenda paper ot the Trades and Taboi Oouncii s Conference, which is to .be held in Wellington next month. Air. W. Duncan (president) occupied the chair, and there was a very large attendance ot delegates. The platform of the conference was first considered as follows: That the Government be urged to issue legal tender State notes, for the purpose of completing the unfinished Main Trunk and other important railways now in course of construction, and for- permanent and reproductive works, with a view to provide a peimanent currency as a medium of exchange for the internal trade of the colony. Approved. . , , , That the Government be urged to abolish the sale of Crown lands and make provision for the periodical valuation of all Crown lands held on lease, lor a period of 50 years from the date of the lease. The resumption of land, for closer settlement to he at owners valuation for taxation purposes;, plus 1U per cent. Tenants to have an absolute right to improvements.—Approved. That the Government should be uigcd to amend the Municipal franchise Reform Act, to provide tnat the 1 ai.ia .Sarv franchise should apply to all elections of local bodies, and that < > Sr sl.oultl be entitle to vote on I rmestions submitted to a poll, also tnat the law should be amended to pro for the election by popular vote for < I Hospital, (tan* ** Road Boards, and Countj CVumml Approved with a proposal toaltitlw word “elector in line o to house h °That the Government should be urged tfv introduce legislation providing tL reSendum. with the initiative in the hands of the people.— Approv'd That the Conciliation and Arbi..ratio,. Act bo amended so as to provide tor statutory- unconditional preference to unionists.— Approved. That the Government be requested to introduce legislation to provide ior the abolition of the Legislative Council A lot of discussion ensued on tins proposal, opinion being divided on Lie question of abolition or election b.v popular vote. Ultimately a reso.ution was carried instructing the delegate to move an amendment in the direction of an Elective Upper House, no person to be eligible for election uu.es.> lie lias served one or two terms m the Lower the Government lie urged to repeal anv laws or regulations which prevent the full exercise ot the political and civic rights of State and municipal employees.—Approved. That the Government be urged to nationalise the marine coastal and intercolonial service.—Approved, That the Government be urged to increase the Land and Income laxes. to abolish exemptions, and corresponding!} decrease the duties on the necessaries ol life that cannot be produced m the colony. l —Approved. . A nmnlier of items from the Auckland Council were next considered as follows: — <• That this Conference approves of the general principle embodied in Mr. A.' R. Guinness’ National Insurance Scheme. — It was resolved that as the Council knew nothing of the scheme that the delegate have a free hand in the matter. , , That the Government be urged to nationalise the iron industry—Approved , . That the Government be urged to bring down a Fair Rent Bill during the next session.— A lot of discussion ensued on this item as to what constituted a fair rent, and how such a proposal would be administered. Ultimately the matter was left to the discretion of the delegate. That the Government be urged to bring do'wn a Right to Work Bilk— Members wished to know what this proposal meant, and after considerable discussion the delegate was instructed not to vote on this matter, but to report to the Council the views expressed at the Conference. That the Government be urged to 1 open up State Coal Mines and Depots in the North Island.—Approved. That the Government be urged to bring down a scheme to, utilise the water power of the Dominion for the public benefit. —Approved. A number of Canterbury remits were considered as follows : That the hours of labor Ik? reduced for the purpose of absorbing all surplus labor, and that Parliament be urged to pass legislation giving effect to the proposition.—A lot of opposition was shown to this principle, as it was considered such a scheme would double the cost of production, and therefore make living dearer. Ultimately the delegate was allowed a free vote on tlio remit. That the Government be urged to start State boot- factories, and that the Conference suggest the establishment of one in the North and one in the South Island. —Approved. The local Council’s remits were all approved of after a discussion on a proposal to withdraw the item proposing State control of the liquor traffic. The remits are: — That the Conference bo requested to seek affiliation with the Australian Trades and Labor Councils, with a view to consolidating organised labor. That the Conference urges the Government to go in more extensively for tlio building of Workmen's Dwellings in tlie larger towns outside the chief centres. That the Government be urged to fix separate days for the General Election and Local Option Poll, also to alter the present Local Option law to allow a vote to be taken on State Control, and the elimination of the reduction clause. To urge the Government to supervise the sanitary affairs of each town by appointing ‘sanitary inspectors as direct Government officials. That the Conference petition strongly a gainst the proposal to grant free immigration to domestic servants.

Westland remits were dealt with as fellows:—

That the Government be urged to bring down an amendment to the Harbor Boards Act that all work shall cease on the wharves throughout the Domin- | ior. between 5 p.m. on Saturdays and mid-night on Sundays.—Approved. That the Government be asked to introduce legislation providing for an amendment to the Municipal Corporations’ Act in the direction of empowering Borough Councils to acquire lands or set apart reserves to erect workers' dwellings thereon.—approved. Other Westland remits were to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and the Shop and Offices Act, and it was agreed that the matters be left to the delegate’s discretion. The items from the Otago Council were disposed of as follows : That "this Conference affirms f. he need for a statutory limitation of working hours to 4-1 hours per week as a maxim. Eight hours on "five days of the week, and four hours on the day of the recognised half-holiday.—Approved That this Conference affirms the betterment principle in connection with railway construction, with the object of putting it on a more scientific and equitable basis, in the hope that it will act as a curb on political influence. Opposition was shown to this proposal, it being contended that to adopt the betterment principle would be an unde- hardship on landowners adjacent to iiew railways, and the delegate was instructed to oppose it.. That the Government be urged to establish State farms and flourmills for the purpose of supplying the poop o of the Dominion with the staff ot hie •it a reasonable eo.st.—Approved. That all goods manufactured in New Zealand shall he branded “Made in New Zealand,” and also bear the manufacturer’s name..—Approved. Remits from Southland were thus acted upon:— . , . That the Conference take steps to appoint an organising agent to especially follow up Arbitration Courts, and conduct all eases on behalf of affiliated unions.—Approved. That the Government bring in an Act to provide proper and sufficient accommodation for saw-mill workers, and that employers provide up-to-date ambulance chests and appliances, with printed instructions thereon as to their use. —Much opposition was shown to this proposal, mainly on the ground of specialising one occupation. Eventually the delegate was allowed to use his discretion on the first portion of the remit, but on the latter lie was instructed to move an amendment in the db'oet'on of including station and farmworkers. b'ushiellers. flaxmill workers, and other workers within the meaning of the remit. That the Conference urge upon the Government the importance of carrying on the planting of forest trees at a greater rate than is now being done. Approved. That the Government be urged to gradually reduce the private areas or land, so that no one person shall hold more than 1000 acres first-class laaid, and 3000 acres second-class land.—Approved. „ . Overtime.—That sccton 22, subclause 3 of the Factories Act, 1901, be amended as follows: —(a) after ordinary rate,’ strike out all words from provide’ to ‘4B’ inclusive, (b) That any woi'lc done after eight hours m any one day shall be paid for at overtime rate—Approved. . That the time has now arrived when the Trades and Labor Councils should take definite action in endeavoring to return labor members to Parliament. Approved. Tlio Wellington Council remits were dealt with as follows: That Conference urge the necessity for immediate legislation establishing a weekly day of rest in New Zealand, as’provided for in other countries. Approved. , • • i That Conference affirms the principle of a “Citizen’s Voluntary Defence Force,” and the establishment of an Australasian Navy, as proposed by the Federal Labor Party.— Members expressed themselves as strongly against this remit. The delegate was instructed to oppose the last portion as being out-of-date in view of recent developments, and to also oppose the first clause moving instead in the direction of compulsory military training. Thirteen amendments to the Shipping and Seamen’s Act and several to the" Workers’ Compensation Act were proposed by the Wellington Council, and the delegate was given a free liana with tlio proposals.