LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12479, 16 April 1906, Page 5

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

ASSEMBLY OF THE TRADES' COCNCIL DELEGATES.

A BULKY ORDER PAPER.

The annual conference of Trades and Labour Councils of New Zealand opened on Saturday morning at ingue'H building. Mr J. Banr, precsdcat ot the Canterbury Council, in the chair. Hie following delegates Mere present: Auckland: \\*. \Sallacc, A. Rceser. Wanganui: T. G. Love, J. H. Moore. Hawke's Bay: A. Collins, W. H. AVestbrook. Wellington: A. H. Cooper, \V. H. Hampton, D. McLaren. nelson :F. Patz, W. Cannington. Christchurch: J. Barr, -J. Thorn, E. Gohns. Dunedin: J. T. Paul, "\V. Hood, R. Breen. The annual irepart as submitted by tho Executive regre-bwd that tire Govwnment had «ot- given effect to any of the impart a nit mcaeiircs urged at the l?pt. ooniferenc?, and went on to approro of the paewago ot tJie Workmen's Dw*llirvg> Bihi, and all the labour legislation passed durkig the ees-ion. Tho Exi-curivo also advocated that the Government, should make, provision for the poriocl'cal re-va!uation of Grown laiuls l«'t en lease, and went on to direct the attention of the conference to recent awards, of the Arbitration. Court, in winch it considered pu-crityonis were made Oiia.t were against tho weight of evitlnnce placed before the Court-. Tho effrcfc of such decisions had been to reduce the f(:andard of living during a per.od oi rapidly inereaftinc prices of the nrcossitiies of life, and rent. Tho repent alba noted with satisfaction the progressive work of tho Independent Political Labour League, anu expressed the opinion, that with more time for organising a;nd the educative example of Great Britain and Australia in returning a greatly inorea-sed nunibar ci Labour members as the only means of eecming permanent reforms, the League will ombraod every worker and mako the voice, of Labour effectual iiii framing future legislation. Ihe report was adopted by the conference.

.Formal business was taken first, end the following was decided:—That tno voting at the Conference should bo on the Gasis of cue delegate one vote; that the Conference be open to the unionists and the ness; that the hours of sitting bp from 9 a.m. till 12 noon, and from 1.30 to o p.m.; that movers of motions bo allowed fifteen minutes, and other speakcrw five minutes each; that a committee, consisting of ono delegate from each Council, be appointed to draw up an order paper. Tho Chairman, on behalf ot the Council, invited delegates to attend a picnic at Governor's Bay on Easter Monday. Mr \V. Hood was elected premdent, and Mr Thorn secretary of the Conference. After eeveral other matters wore dealt with, the Conference adjourned till Tuesday at 9 a.m. THE ORDER PAPER. The Order Paper Committee subsequently mot and redniced a bulky order paper "to the following list of questions tor discussion:— 1. Export duty on unsorted gum (Auckland); 2. Rpaffirmation of rating on unimproved value principle (Auckland): 3. Registration of partnerships (Wellington); 4. Abolition of sale of Crown lands (Wellington); o. Penalty for broach of statutory holidays (Noleon); 6. Uniform set of school books (Xolaon); 7. Melbourne remit re reduction of working hours (Canterbury); 8. Economic Government Elective Executive (Canterbury); 9. Amondroent to Electoral Act to make donations by candidates illegal (Otago); 10. Cessation of borrowing (Otago); 11. Amendment to Compensation for Accidents Act (Wanganui); 12. Increase of poll tax on Chinamen (Auckland); 13. Moigan system of mensuration (Auckland); 14. Communication to Australian Trades' Councils re intercolonial conferences (Wellington); 15. Local Government reform (Wellington);'l6. Universal compulsory half-holiday (Nelson); 17. Surplus profits (Canterbury); 18. Nationalisation or land (Canterbury) ; 19. United action re worker*. , delegates on Arbitration Court (Otago); 20. Increase of land and income taxes (Otago); 21. Appointment of medical authorities undor Factories Act (Wanganni); 22. Delay in erecting workmen's homos (Auckland); 23. AbsoluteMajority Bill (Wellington); 24. Establishment of legal bureaux (Wellington); 25. Prohibition of importation of volunteer uniforms (Nelson); 2G. Amendments to Machinery Act (Canterbury); 27. Removal of civil and political disabilities from Civil Seirante (Canterbury) ; 28. Nationalisation of coastal service (Otago); 29. Limitation of ago of apprentices (Wanganni); 30. Tariff revision (Auckland); 31. Establishment of State boot and clothing factories, etc. (Wellington); 32. "Mario in New Zealand" stamp (Nelson); 33. Establishment of Boards of Appeal, etc. (Canterbury); 34. Reliable statistics for Labour Department reports (Oi-ago); 35. Present mode of enquiry into 'accidents under Factories Act (Wan•^βniii); 36. Amendment to Workers' Compensation Act (Auckland); 37. Restriction of importation of labour iindeuV contract (Wellington); 38. Standing orders for Conference (Canterbury); 39. Legal tender State notes (Otago); 40. Bettor regulation of labour registry- offices (Wanganui); 41. Eoua) p.i-y for equal work (Wellington) ; 42. .State Bank (Canterbury); 43. Enforcement of Labour Day Act (Wanganui); 41. Suppression of trusts and combines (Wanganui); 40. Amendments to Mi t> Arbitration and Conciliation Act (Auckland. "Wellington, Nelson. Canterbury and Otago).

The Order Pflpor Committcp Tccommended to tho Conference that the proposed amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act bo takon as the first new business after the midday adjournment on Wednesday.