LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12481, 18 April 1906, Page 2

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

DISCUSSION OX THE EXECUTIVE'S JtKPORT.

i The New Zealand Trades and Labour ; Councils' Conference resumed yester- ! day in the Municipal Chambers, tho President (Mr W. Hood) being in the chair. The following members were in their places:— J. Barr. E. Golins, W. Cannington, F. Pale. J- T. Paul, 11. Breer, J. F. Moon, T. E. Love, W. Wallace, A. Roa-or, A. Collins, W. West brook, W. H. Hampton, D. McI Laren, A. H. Cooper. The report of the Executive was submitted for discussion, and it was decided to debate the various paragraphs in their order. An amendment moved by Mr M'Laren that the words '"to prevent strikes and lock-outs" be deleted from the congratulatory reference to die amendments to the Arbitration Act, was rejected.—Mr liarr moved to strike out all reference to incompetent workers in tho report, on tho ground that it continued what had been feaid from time to time by, employers, that the minimum wage had become the maximum wage, and that tho workers had accepted the position.—Mr M"Laren seconded, euid objectt-d that in New Zealand at, the present lime- there seemed to be a hunt throughout the country for "incompetents.''—Mr Hampton said that the word "under rate' , in awards «aa introduced by Mr Justice Chapman in this Nelson ciiqwiiters' award, and that then the trouble bepan. The term "incompetent ,, should only apply to workers who had been journeymen.— Mr Paul agreed that employers had tried to pereuado "under rate" workem that they were incompetent workers, and as such could be employed at « lower- 7'atc of watie.v. Mr Justice Chapman was ni.s-o trying to substitute the words 'v-t.amL'mi w-;ige" icr minimum wago, which would be a further raiis;> of trouble.—Mr Wallace agreed that the word: "incompetent" had been unduly stretched, .and bijr-ge.'-U'd that in award* peniiii-Mon to work for less than the minimum wage J fch-ould !>e qualified by the words ''by reason of old ago or other bodily infirmity."—The amendment was lost.— Mr llossor objected to the paragraph in the report relating to tlio Independent Labour Ijeague, and moved that it be deleUsd. He held that the Conference j should not. display party feeling in this matter.—Mr Hair seconded, and supported the amendment, and thought, as a matter of discretion and policy, there t-hould Iki no reference to any political organisation.—Mr Westbrcok said it was the impression that by setting up the League it. would bo the means of eliminating on party politics from their Conferences, and to give those member* who liad political leanings the opportunity of organising tho labour party as they saw lit, apart from Iho Conference. lie thought tho present reforenco in the report to the Ivoaguo would do no good, and should be struck out.—Mr Hreen defended tho Executive, submitting that as the Conference set up the Political Labour League, tho report would have been incomplete without fionie reference to it. —Mr Hampton accused objectors to the paragraph of inconsistency, for they hod already approved of congratulations to Mr heir Hardic and tho British Independent Labour Party.—Mr Paul said that tho object of tho Independent 1/abour Party was to try and pa.* into law reforms which were initiated by the labour jvarry, but which hitherto had been left to some other party to carry through Parliament. Reference had been made to the Liberal-Labour Federation, but where was labour in that Federation? Labour had been squeezed When it came to a question of selecting candidates, and there was a choice between a working man who had ability and a moneyed man who had not, th'o Government invariably chceo the latter. Without exception the Government preferred the wealthy man. (A member: "What about Arnold?'") The Conference would etultify itself if it threw out ,this paragraph in the report, and tho Press could only come to the conclusion that the Conference was against tho •Labour Party.—Mr Wallace objected strongly to Mx Paul's disparaging remarks to the Liberal Associations of the colony. He was chairman of r.--, of them, and he thought the majority of tho working men wero content with what wa.s being done by tho present Government. The Conference resumed at 1.30 pm when Mr A. H. Cooper (Wellington) took his seat. ■ RATING OX UNIMPROVED VALUES. Mr Rossor (Auckland) moved—"That this Conference affirm tho principle of I rating on the unimproved value." i Speaking to the question, ho said he ; did not think it needed any dubate from ; fro calm and enlightened and dispaa- ! fi.onate an assembly as theirs. They wero all familiar with tho arguments !in faronr of the principle, which was , opposed to allowing the unearned increment going into the pockets of those who did nothing to create it. Mr Wallace seconded tho motion, winch was carried without further disciitJ^ion. SCHOOL HOOKS AND SCHOOL i i'UUNITURE. Mr W. Cannington (Nelson) moved: • That a unitorm ret of books be ! adopted by tho .Education Department ; i.ir the sen cole of the colony, such ' books to l)u printed by tho Government ' and tjold at eont price, and that store '• be taken by tho Lduc-itiou Department to abolish ihe long dwk, and lonn sys;ctu of seating scholars in tlio Suite i and State-aided schools of the colony, and (hut the single desk t-vfi.em be in- ] isticuted. '

Mr J. Barr eoconded the motion. Mr Paul, in supporting tho motion, put in v plea for coouialiy made school iunmiitv it 1)0 decided to niako the chiingo urged in the motion. Air C;mnington agreod to add to his motion : "And that if single desks arc adopted they phould be manufactured in the colony."

AUi'T >\ short d>ci!r-Kon the motion was unanimously adopted. / THE ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. Mr J. Barr moved: "That the Government be urged to introduce Ivnalntioti providing for an Elective- Executive-. ' .ir E. Golinri seconded the motion, wludi was put and carried. A SYSTEM OF MENSURATION. Mr Hosier mov«l: "That tho Con-HM-onoo support a resolution ot the Auckland Trades and labour Council urging the Government to got expert adnee on the Morgan Block isvstom ot Mensuration, a« adoptotl by tho Con. foronee of 1904."' The motion was duly seconded, when Mr Paul moved the provions question. Thi.« v.vas carried by 11 votes to 4. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. Mi- I). McLaren (Wellington) moved: "That this Conference eiipport. Local Government Reform on the. following linos :— "(a) Extension of the franchise to the Parliamentary roll. "(t>) All local bo«i«s to bo elected by popular vote. I (c) All electors to have tho right i to vote on all questions subi mitted to a poll." I Mr A. Collins seconded tho motion, which was carried after a short discussion. Tive Conference rotie at 5 p.m. for the dr.y. and will sit again this morning at nine o'clock. The report* of the dehat.es on the Lind tenure and borrowing questions w:l. ho found flsowhere.