WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 209, 2 September 1911, Page 9

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

I ANNUAL CONFERENCE CONTINUED. | SOME. IMPORTANT REMITS. The sixth day's session in connection with ti.e N.Z. Waterside Workers' .\uu;u.l Conference was entered upon this morning. BLTTFU WORKING CONDITIONS WANTED. Mr. Canham lAuckland; moved, "That wilil a view of preserving the health and ensuring a minimum of discomfort ; to the unmuers of this Federation, this loiuerenoe atlirnis the absolute necessity j i'or anl bigs, sacks, mats, etc., eontain- ; lag cement, bonedust, basic slag, and | superphosphates, being made dust-proof I liv being lined with paper or otherwise treated. Further, as the Federation lias ample evidence that it is useless to approach the Arbitration Court or the Conciliation Council for assistance or | protection in this matter, this remit i shall be an instruction from conference to each branch of this Federation, and every member thereof, to decline to handle lime and cement unless contained in dust-proof Uigs nr casks, on and aiter j the Ist January, 1912,' except at double ] Lhc ordinary cargo rates." Tile motion was generally discussed, several delegates urging the advisability ; of waterside workers refusing to handle I lime, cement, etc., until there was an ! improvement as desired. The motion was somewhat altered in jits wording, and then carried. On the motion of Messrs. G. Smith i (Wellington) and Pring (Lyttelton) it j was further decided to recommend each j union to notify the employers, giving ' thejn till January, 1912, to comply with i these conditions. •NEITHER WILFULLY NOR FOR FUN." Mr. Canham (Auckland) moved: ''That | realising that no industrial worker wilI fully or for fun gets maimed or mutilated ' while working at his employment, and further affirming that no worker should | be penalised in addition to his injuries j (often sustained 83 a result of his em- j I plovers' negligence) by having his earn- i ines reduced 50 per cent, this Conference calls upon the Government to so amend the Workers' Compensation Act as to provide for the payment of full wages ■by all employers to each and all persons meeting with accident while working in their employ." Mr. McKay (Wanganui) pointed out that he had a similar remit on the order paper, and he asked that he be allowed to withdraw, and to add to Mr. Canham's motion the additional proposal: "Compensation to commence on the date of the accident and employers to bear all expenses." The remit was adopted in the amended form. QUESTION OF INITIATION. A further Auckland remit, moved by Mr. Canham, was: —"Failing a move on the part of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation to affiliate with the i New Zealand Federation of Labour, each branch of this Federation, through its delegates here assenrbled, pledges itself to grant free initiation, either on clearance or on production of a satisfactory pence card or contribution book, to any member of any other organised Industrial body of workers in New Zealand, without anv further restriction."

The proposal was fully discussed, but was lost on being put to the conference. MR. E. TREGEAR AS ORGANTSER, Mr. McKay (Wanganui) moved: "That this Federation communicate with all other federations of workers in New Zealand, with the object of trying to procure the services of Mr. E. Tregear fnr organisms work and general assistance in Union and Labour matters." Mr. T. Smith (Wellington) seconded th" proposal, which was supported by other delegates, the work performed by Mr. Tregear while occupying the position of Under-Secretary of T/ibour being referred to in eulogistic terms. Mr. G. Smith IFa tea) moved, and J. Allington (Auckland) seconded an amendment in favour of substituting Mr. R. Semple*s name for that of Mr. Prehear. T'lis proposal was lost. and the original motion carried. MISCELLANEOUS. The following remits were carried: "That compulsory preference to all unionists be placed on the St uute Book." "That the conference Revise som" "ictus whorrby all stevedores workinT in any roadstead in New Zealand sh.tll he provided with proper sleeping ani dining accommodation."