TRADES AND LABOR CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2646, 30 October 1909, Page 2

TRADES AND LABOR CONFERENCE.

’ * ~ A SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS. f L'jiK rxuiss Association. | WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. 'i lie Trades and Labor Conference reariirmeci the resolutions passed at the previous sittings, that the Government oe urged to nationalise the iron industry; a iso that it be urged to cancel the agreement- leasing the Earapara iron ore deposit to the late J. A. Cadinan, and at present held in. trust by the Public Trustee, and that the State should work the iron deposits in the interests oi the people. Mr. T. Long (Auckland) moved that the Government be urged to open up {state coal mines and depots m the North Island. He urged that a depot should be started in Auckland, -as there was a coal ring there which kept up the price of coal. The present price was monstrous, and seeing the Government had coal deposits in the Waikato, it should open them up, and establish depots as speedily as possiole, thus reducing the price : to the consumer. 'Mr. W. Naughton (Wellington) saiu the only way of effectively dealing with monopolies was by starting in business against them. The motion was carried, with an amendment that coal mines and depots should be opened up to meet the convenience o‘f the wnole of the people of the Dominion. Mr. W. T. Young (Wellington) moved, "That in the opinion oi the Conference it is desirable that in the best interests of New Zealand there should he a. State connecting link between the North and South Islands, and wii.li.that object in view we urge upon the Government the desirability of taking over the steam ferry service between Lyttelton and Wellington.” The motion was carried. Mr. R. Whiting (Canterbury) moved •What the Government be urged _ to start State boot and clothing factories, and that the Conference suggest the establishment- of them in the North and i„ -the South island.” Tim speaker said if this were done the State could save to the public annually in respect to boots and shoes a sum of £158,000. The public should he able to got an article of necessity at a reasonable price, and employees should _ receive reasonable remuneration for their work. The Government had established the precedent of State industries, and there was no reason whv this should not be extended to the bootmaking industry. Mr W. H. Warren (Otago) said those ■engaged in shoemaking .we're the worst paid of any. The protection had been proved conclusively to be detrimental to the interests of the community. Mr. Horning (Auckland) moved as an amendment, “That the Government be urged to nationalise the bootinaking and clothing industries of the Dominion.”’ Mr. K. Whiting, in replying, stated the Bootmakers’ Federation was sincere in asking the Government to start State boot factories. It had offered.the Government £2090 if it would- do so. That offer was still open. The amendment was lost, and the motion carried. On the motion of' Mr. Jackson (Auckland), it was decided to recommend that section 53 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act. 1903. be struck out, and that section 5 of the principal Act bo reon noted. ' This was agreed to, the object being to permit industrial unions to be formed with a membership of seven instead of sixteen, as now required. _ A large number of amendments to the Shipping and Seamen’s Act were proposed bv Mr. A. T. Young (Wellington). These dealt with an increase in the manning scale, desertion, boat drill, certificates of discharge, steer oars for life-saving. boats, allocation of boat stations, and • life-saving precautions. He contended that such alterations would help to minimise in such cases as the Penguin wreck. The amendments were agreed to. Other motions passed were as follows: —That the Government be urged to bring down a scheme to utilise tho water-power of the Dominion for the public benefit: that the Government be urged to acquire a mail-carrying service, • instead of subsidising private. owners ; that the Government should ’ have their own colliers ; that the Government be urged to establish State flour mills, ior the pip-pose of supplying the people of the Dominion with flour at a reasonable cost ; that the incoming executive bo instructed to devise a scheme for tho appointment of an organising agent to follow up the Arbitration Court, and conduct all cases on behalf of affiliated unions, such scheme- to be submitted, t-o the affiliated councils and unions for approval. The Conference resumed to-day. The betterment principle was affirmed 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 pol itical influence. The Labor Conference to-day passed resolutions asking the Government to legislate for the provision of proper accommodation for sawmill workers; that all goods manufactured in New Zealand should be so branded; that the conference protests against the free immigration of domestic servants; that the Government should go in extensively for building workers’ homes in the larger towns outside the chief centres; that the Government should bring down a Fair Rent Bill next session.