THE TRADES' CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10635, 20 April 1900, Page 2

THE TRADES' CONFERENCE.

(press association tklkgram.) WELLINGTON, April 18. At the Trades and Labour Conference a motion Lα favour of the nationalisation of coal mines was carried. It was decided to urge tl*e Government to have stationary engine drivers certificated, and it w;i* resolved that the Cusfoms duties ou the necessaries of life should be removed. An amendment to include the income tax was defeated. Resolutions were passed urging the Government to establish bootmaking tvnd tailoring •hope; also to license secondhand dealers, to amend clause 33 of the Coal Mines Act, and to adopt eight hours for millers: and to make the Rating on the Unimproved Values Act mandatory. The Conference resolved that the old age pension should be made universal, provided the condition? as to residence, age,' etc.. were complied with. A committee was appointed to discus 3 the question of establishing and registering trade union labels. Government were urged to procure close to the principal cifies sites for workmen's homes.

The Conference will endeavour to bring fcbout a better understanding between labour organisations in Wellington. It was agreed to urge that the Electoral Act should be amended in the direction of giving equal representation according to population to towns nnd country. The Government are to be asked to reintroduce the Restriction of Usury Bill. It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the Government to introduce the Department of Labour Bill pi'ovidinjr for compulsory providing of labour statistics to the Department by employers. A deputation was appointed to wait on Messrs Tregear and Mackay, of the Labour Department..re an amendment of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Resolutions were carried urging the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the; mines, and to grant labour organisations direct labour representation on all labour boards.