THE TRADES' CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10633, 18 April 1900, Page 5

THE TRADES' CONFERENCE.

{r__B_ ASSOCIATION' TK.-0--_t.)

WELLINGTON, April 17. The report of the Executive of tho Trades' Conference, after referring to the legislation of last session, and the necessity for amending the Factories Bill, refers to'the Arbitration Act as tlie sheet anchor of Trades j Unions, and states t_at_in view of tbe dcci-; sion of Mr Justice Edwards, strong representation should be made to the Government to bring all Unions under the provisions of the Act, aa the Executive is firmly convinced that the Legislature never an_cipated such a narrow interpretation of the term "Industrial. Reference is made to the case now before the Courts, regarding the preference of employment to Unionists, and tbe opinion is expressed that funds can easily be raised to take it, if necessary, to the Privy CounciL Reeolutions were passed that the Act should be amende- in tbe direction of making it accessible to all workers; ■ that any employer beginning business subsequent to an industrial award or agreement should be bound by it; that the Unions should be permitted, under the Arbitration Act; to, grant clearances to members leaving one industrial district for another; that counsel should be prohibited from appearing at the hearing of disputes, and that tbe original title of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, namely, "an Act to encourage the formation of Unions," should be reinstated.

A motion that the Government should be asked to amend tbe Act to make preference of employment for Unionists compulsory was carried with, one dissentient, who thought the Unions would be kept more up to the murk if they* had to fight for preference, and that if it wero compulsory it might be abused. Most of the afternoon waa taken up by the Conference in considering further amendments required in the Act. It was agreed that sittings of tbe Arbitration Court should be held at intervals of not more than three months.

A proposal that the awards should apply throughout the whole of the industrial districts evoked considerable discussion, as some members held that an award might be fair enough for one place but not for another. Event-sUv the motion waa amended to provide only for the award in the chief centre of the district applying, and miners were exempted. The Factories Act was next considered. It was resolved that the hours of labour for females and boys should be not more than eight hours per day, and four hours on Saturday, and that permits for overtime on, Saturdays should be abolished; that there should be a compulsory weekly half-holiday for adults, and that all workers in factories should be compelled to come under the Act