TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCILS' CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 80, 6 April 1899, Page 2

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCILS' CONFERENCE.

- m (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The Trades and Labour Conference resumed its sitting to-day. i There was a long and animated discussion on the incidence of taxation,and the following motion by the Wellington delegate was carried: —'That the Conference urges the Government to abolish tho duties on the neces* series of life, and to increase the land The Conference carried the following motion unanimously:—'That this Conference, appreciating the great public services of the Hon. J. McKen. zie in his successful efforts to reform the land laws, places on record its 1 regret that failing health necessitates his journey to the Motherland, and trusts he will return with renewed strength and vigour to carry on the work of social reform so urgently needed by the colony.' The Conference decided to protest strongly against the refusal of the Government- to enforce the labour' laws, such as the Workmen's Wages Act and the TrUck Act, and to urge that second-hand dealers be licensed; that the Shipping and Seamen's Act be amended, so as to provide that a seaman shall satisfy, a nautical examiner of his qualifications to ship, instead of a justice of the peace, as at present; and further, that four marine superintendents be appointed to see that the Act is properly adminA motion urging the Government to enact a Government Accident Insurance Bill was carried.

It was decided that common jurors should be paid 8s per day, a motion abolishing special and grand juries being lost. . ■ \ There was a long discussion on the Arbitration and Conciliation* Act, but Auckland delegates had been instructed to oppose any motion that might all proposed amendments were rejected. It was stated that the Otago and bring the Act before Parliament next session.

CHRISTOHURCH, this day,

At the Trade and Labour Conference a resolution was carried that the Government be again urged to establish Government tailoring workshops in Wellington, also similar resolutions with regard to a boot factory. I was desolved that reform of the Legislative Council be a plank in the labour platform.