TRADES AND LABOR CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2647, 1 November 1909, Page 5

TRADES AND LABOR CONFERENCE.

MOTIONS BY EAST COAST DELEGATE. J"Picu Pness Association.] WELLINGTON, October 30. At the Labor Conference Mr. J. H. Hall (East Coast) moved that the Government ho urged to fix separate days for the general election and local option poll. Speakers contended that the local option poll obscured the' political issues, and therefore unduly interfered with the election of representatives. The motion was lost by 13 to 7. Mr. Hall also moved that the Government be urged to alter tlio present local option law, to allow a vote being taken on State control and the elimination of the reduction clause. He contended that the reduction clause created a monopoly. Many people who were in .favor of State control were practically disfranchised, as they were not given an opportunity to vote on such an issue. The motion was lost on the voices. Mr. O’Byrne (Southland) moved that the Government bring in an Act to provide proper and sufficient accommodation for bush sawmill workers, and that employers provide up-to-date ambulance chests and appliances with printed instructions thereon as to their use. The mover'said the motion concerned some 6000 men between Auckland and Bluff. The accommodation provided in Southland, in some instances was disgraceful, and no redress could be obtained from the Arbitration Court. He had been in mills where 15 men were employed, and there was not accommodation for four men. Ihe motion "was carried. Other motions passed were as follows: “That all goods manufactured in New Zealand shall be branded ‘made in New Zealand,’ and also bear the manufacturer’s name. The colonial executive was instructed to prepare a schedule and submit it to the Minister of Labor. That the conference petition strongly against the proposals to grant free immigration to domestic servants. That the conference urges the Government to go m more extensivelv for the building of workmen’s dwellings in the larger towns outside the chief centres. _ That the Government be urged to bring down a Fair Rent Bill during the next session. , „ . The Trades and Labor Conference resolved that if a building is condemned as being insanitary, the Government be requested to see that the municipality carries out its duty. The Conference expresses the strongest obyec--om to the suggestion that Harbor Boards should be exempted from the operation of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and asked that the Government not in any way to support any Bill having for its object such exemption. WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. The Labor Conference resolved to advise. the unions interested to hold a conference and arrange for obtaining one award for the whole of the building trade. A resolution was passed protesting against the exemption of Harbor Boards from the. provisions of the Conciliation and Arbitration. Act. Ihe conference affirmed the .desirability of establishing a DominionTLabor paper. 'L'lie conference Las now closed.