THE TRADE'S CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10636, 21 April 1900, Page 4

THE TRADE'S CONFERENCE.

(PKES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGBAir.)

WELLINGTON, April 20. At the Trades Conference to-day resolutions were carried urging the Government to provide that inspectors or other pexsons should be instructed to enforce awurds or other agreements under the Arbitration Act j that the Government should be amenable to/thei provisions of the Act; that the Government should 'be urged to introduce a Bill submitting thequestion of tlie abolition of the Upper House to a' referendum. Mr Slater read a paper on hints, as to proceedings under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.

The Conference, in discussing the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. resolved, that providing that both parties agreed upon such a course, proceedings should be taken direct to the Arbitration Court} further, that when an award or industrial agreement expired;, it should be deemed ia force till another award or agreement had been entered into. It was resolved that the Workmen's Wages Act should be amended, giving Unions power to sue on behalf of memebrs. The Government is to be asked to grant 6d per day increase to railway hands who receive under 10s per day, in the Westland district.

A proposal that a central fund should be established for the purpose of contesting breaches of awards and agreements, was agreed to, and the question is to be submitted to the various Councils for consideration.

A motion that the Government should bf asked to introduce a Minimum Wage Bill was carried by* 6 votes t0.4. The Government is to be asked to abolish grand juriesonly one jury list to prevail, audi jurors to be paid 10a per day. Tlie Conference urged that before any permits were given for Sunday work in mines, opportunity should be granted the public ol objecting; further that there should be no ore crushing work on Sunday. It was decided that the resolution providing for annual conferences to be held in Wellington' and Christchurch alternatively should be rescinded, and that the next Conference should be held in Dunedin, tlie Canterbury Council to be the executive for the ensuing year. Satisfaction was expressed at the Government having given effect to some suggestions by the Conference. It was decided; to recommend that delegates to future Conferences should be bonafide members of the Council they represent, and that members of Parliament should not be eligible as delegates. This the business of the Conference.