THE EXPORT OF KAURI GUM

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12484, 21 April 1906, Page 7

THE EXPORT OF KAURI GUM

Mr A. Rosser moved—'"That in consideration of the fact that very large quantities of kauri gum are exported to Europe and America without being sorted in tho colony, and whereas the sorting in these countries is done by cheap labour, to the detriment of the unionist gum sorters in the Auckland province, this Conference sitrongly urges the Government to impose an export duty on unsorted gum over the value of £40 p~r ton." Tlie mover said that about two years ago th© Auckland

Gum Workers' Union went before tho Arbitration Court and got an award which provided ior an increase in wages. TII3 gum merchants and buyers then decided to ship the gum away unsorted, and the Gum Workers' Unioat asked the Council to go into the question. Tlie industry was one of the meat important in the colony. In had times it liad always been a standby. Up to the e-nd oi 1904 the value of gum exported was £12.300.057. and the value of gckl for the same period exported from tho North Island was £12.350.7.>0. During 1001 the gum exported amounted to 0023 tons, valued at £501,817. or at an average of £_4 10s 7d per ton. Thegold revenue for the same period yielded £7583 3s Bd. but there was no record of any revenue having been re- i ceived on the gum. The Gum Workers' Union did not think that the dutywould fall on the producer of tlie gum, but on tlie buyers. Tlie industry was a failing one, and every ton that wont, away made the colony so much the poorer. Mr W. Wallace seconded the motion. The Chairman expressed the hope that the duty would do what was expected of it. He thought they should demand that the industry should be nationalised. Mr Rosser agreed to amend his motion in the direction of asking for a heavy export duty on kauri gum ponding the nationalisation of the industry. The motion was then put and carried. REGISTRATION OF PARTNERSHIPS. Mr A. H. Cooper moved—"That the Government ho urged to introduce legislation to provide for the _ registration or all partnerships, the. eortificale of registration to show the names and occupations of the persons constituting such partnerships.'' Mr R. Breen seconded the motion, which was carried after a brief discussion. THE SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT. A remit from Nelson suggesting an amendment of the Shop.*: and Oilices Act, to provide for a penalty for a breach of the same on all statutory holidays, was re fer led to. the Executive. THE ELECTORAL ACT. Mr J. T. Paul moved—"That, the Government he urged to amend the Electoral Act, making ;t illegal for any ' candidate for Parliamentary honours to make donations within threo months of an election." The mover explained that cases had occurred where candidates standing in the moneyed interests becamo very benevolent at election times. This operated to the detriment of the poorer candidate, who might suffer Ly reason of his being unable to make these donations. Mr J. Thorn seconded the motion, and, speaking from experience, said ho had received numberless requests during his election campaign from institutions requiring financial aid. Mr W. H. Hampton said that the irotion was very far-reaching, and might apply to contributions mado to die church plate. Mr Breen instanced a case of a candidate who was told by a certain institution that it would be worth his while to make a donation. Air Collins.and Mr Jtosser could not see anything to be gained by passing the motion. At this stage the midday adjournment was taken. The Conference resumed at 1.30 p.m. Mr Wallace moved to include tho words ''or promise to make," before the word "donations" and the word "that it shall be illegal for any person to solicit a donation from such candidates," after tho word "donation." Mi* Breen seconded, and the amendment was carried, as well as the motion. COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS. Mr T. G. Love (Wanganui) moved: 'That tho Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act be amended by the addition of the following words to clause 6, 'and tho Inspector of Factories shall claim from the employer tlie compensation the injured person is entitled to, and hand over the same to the injured person.'" Mr J. H. Moore seconded the motion. Mr W. D. Hampton moved as an amendment: "That 'Inspector of Factories shall,' bo struck out with a view to inserting 'an industrial union of workers may,' in lieu thereof. Mr A. Collins seconded tlio amendment, which was lost on tho casting vote of tho chairman. Mr Wallace moved a further amendment to include both the Inspector of Factories and an industrial union. This was accepted by tho mover, and the motion carried. THE POLL-TAX ON CHINESE. Mr W. Wallace moved: '"That seeing the present poll-tax of £100 per head on Chinese immigrants is not sufficient to prevent large quantities of Chinamen from coming into the colony tied hand and foot for years to Chinese employers who have advanced *the amount of their poll-tax, this Conference is of opinion that tho tax should bo increased to not less than £200 per head." Mr A. Rosser seconded Jhe motion, and said that in a recent cargo of Chinese which arrived at Auckland ! there wero threo Chinese women, l'ho Chinese capitalist was very like his white brother, aud no controlled the market gardens in Auckland. It was a practice for the Chinese capitalist to advance the poll tax and to bring out Chinese who had to work for years to pay it off.

Mr Collins moved as an amendment: "That the poll-tax bo £1000 per head." (Laughter.) Speaking to the amendment, he said he was glad to notice that there were practically no Chinese in Christchurch. It was true that ho had 'bumped up" that morning against a laundry with tho name Yung Sue over it, or something like that, but ho understood that was a Scotch name. (Laughter.) He went 0 n to say that practically the whole of tho fruit trade in Wellington was monopolised by Chinese, although he was pleai-ed to say that tho Europeans were gradually pushing them out. Tho Conference might think a £1000 poll-tax too drastic, but ho did not think that would stop them. In Manners street there was a wealthy Chinese merchant who laughed at the poll-tax. Ho brought out Chinese labour, and paid the polltax with a smile. Chinamen came out to him as bonded slaves, and worked for two shillings or three shillings a week. But if they were allowed to come into the country, he thought they should lie allowed to "bring their women with them. .It was deplorable to see a sight that was common in Wellington, viz., a Chinaman with a white wile and five or six half-cast children. Mr Westbrook seconded tho amendment, and thought it did not go far enough. Mr Cannington instanced the numbers of Chinese on tho West Coast, and regretted that they were rapidly increasing, judging by the number of children that could be seen. Ho was glad to be able to state, however, that the hust Chinese fruit shop in Nelson had closed up. (Hear, hear.) Mr R. Breen thought that the immigration of Chinese'should be prohibited altogether. carried, and became the substantive motion. Mr Broen then moved, as a further amendment' "That tho Government be urged to prohibit the immigration of Chinese and other Asiatics, and that this Conference declares itself in favour of a white New Zealand." Mr J. T. Paul seconded the amendment. Mr J. Barr asked the chairman to ride if the amendment was in order, as it brought up the question of the immigration of all Asiatics and that of a white New Zealand. Tlie Chairman ruled the amendment in order. Mr Paul, continuing., agreed with Mr Collins, that to increase the poll tax simply meant ir_crea.-_ig the t*r_i of

slavery which the Chines© had to undergo on arrival. It was better, therefore, to go all the way, and prohibit tho importation of .Chinese altogether. Mr A. Rosser thought there, was no chance of passing a, resolution in favour of a white New Zealand. It was unattainable, and in many respects undesirable. Tho amendment was lost by 12 votes to four. At the suggestion of Mr Hampton tho mover decided to add a proviso to his motion, that Chinese be submitted to the same educational tests as any other undesirable immigrant. Tho motion •was then carried unanimously. INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCES. Mr W. H. Hampton moved: "Tliat the incoming executivo he instructed to open up correspondence with tho Australian Councils, with a view to arranging for lutcr-colonial Trades and Labour Conferences in the near tuture. Mr J. Barr seconded the motion, which was carried. AN UTOPIAN IDEA. Mr J. Barr submitted tho following from tho Canterbury Council: —* As tho greed for surplus profits is a cunso to all industries, this"Council urges tho Conference of delegates of the irades Councils ct New Zealand to da." cuss iho advLsableness of the work of the colony being done for use instead of for profit." It the Conference was prepared to go into the matter he would be ple._ert to submit a motion on ihe subject. 'Inis was agreed to. Mr Barr then moved: "That the Government be urged to bring in a Bid fixing the maximum profits in all industries and empowering the Government to call tricnmally for returns from all manufacturers and employers of labour in tho colony, and to encourage tho combination of industries or on a cooperative basis." Mr E. Gobi's seconded the motion. Mr McLaren moved as an amendment : " That the question be remitted to the several Councils for their consideration with instructions to report their decisions to tho Executive in time to go on tho next Confeienco Order Paper." Mr A. H. Cooper seconded the amendment. The Conference hero got into a tangle as to whether tho motion was in I order or not. Mr Thorn then moved a further amendment which was practically on i all fours with the original remit tabled |by Mr Barr. Mr W. H. Hampton seconded fhis, and Mr McLaren agreed to withdraw his amendment in favour of it. Some further discussion ensued, and the Conference disposed of the whole matter by adopting tlie following resolution : "That this Conference, recognising fhat the greed for surplus profits, is the curse of all industry, affirms tho principle of displacing a profit system in favour of a system in which production is lor use, and that the incoming Executive bo instructed, to draft a «:heme on the lines mentioned for submission to tho next I Conference." the Arbitration court. Mr R. Breen moved:—"That the Conference take into consideration the question of united action in c-o-_iec_ion with tho selection of tho workers' representative on the Arbitration Court." In support of the motion, Mr Breen expressed the opinion that it was desirable for the workers to have the best representative thoy could possibly get upon the Arbitration Court. Mr A. "Dollins seconded the motion, which was carried. ■Mr Ri Breen moved to refer tie maitter to the mcorning Executive. The idea he had in his mind was to ask the various Councils to submit the names of suitable candidates, which in turn could bo submitted to the various industrial unions. He hoped that all tit© Councils would sink their differences, and endeavour to get tho strongest man possible for the position. Mr W. H. Hampton seconded the motion, which was carried with a i*ecommendation that (tho Executive consult tho various Councils. ABSOLUTE MAJORITY BILL. Mr W..H. Hampton moved:—"That the Conference affirm the principle of Mr R. McNab- Absolute- Majority Bill, and! urges the Government to give practical effect to it by Legislation." .Mr McLean seconded the motion, which was carried, the Nelson delegates dissenting. THE MACHINERY ACT. Mr E. Gohns moved:—"That the Machinery Act be amended by the addition of the following provision, 'that tlurd-class certificates should bo issued to engineers for engines having cylini L of ., from 49 to I*4 circular inches, and boilers of five hors© power.'" Mr J. H. Moore seconded the motion. ■ Mr W. H. Hampton moved as an amendment, that all the words after '.'that" bo struck out, and the following substituted: "The words 'one hundred and forty-four" in section 42, subsection 6, of tho Inspection of Machinery Act be deleted, with a view to the insertion of the words 'one hundred.'"

Mr Cooper seconded the amendment, which was carried. , Mr Gohns further moved "That all steam boilers carrying a pressure of 40 pounds per square inch and over to have protectors Over water gauge glasses of an approved pattern, the said protectors to be carefully inspected' at the annual inspection of boilers, and any irregularities to be immediately reported, and anyone faiiing to comply with this section shall bo liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred pounds (£100.) "That notwithstanding anything in the Act, any person in charge of any steam engines or boilers shall have a certificate. Such certificate shall be held by the person actually engaged driving the engines or firing the boilers, no other certificate being used to cover the job. Also such person not to absent himself or cease to liave proper control of the said engines or boilers, and the said person shall not bo a distance from the said engines or boilers exceeding 20 yards." Ma- Cooper seconded <!he motion, which was put and carried. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF. Mr A. Rosier (Auckland) moved: "That the tariff he revised this session, so as to givo a greater encouragement to all natural industries, and inter alia to provide that a prohibitive duty shall bo placed on (a) all imported manufactured parts used in the book-binding industry; (b) all imported buggies, whether whole or in parts; (c) all foreign built vessels sold in New Zealand; (d) the same duty be placed on machinery in all vessels b-jilt to order outside tho colony for local companies, as now exists on machinery imported in parts." Mr W. Wallace seconded the motion. Mr Rosser, in reply to a request for detail-:, described "the parts used in bookbinding which wero freely imported, and went on to refer to imported buggies, which wero really surplus stock that was being dumped in New Zealand at a price below what they wero sold at in America. Ho believed there was a 20 per cent, ad valorem duty on these buggies, but that was not high enough to keep them out. As -Lb shipbuilding, they bad the largest yard in the colony at"Auckland, but it could not compete with Australian yards. Quite recently the Colonial Sugar Company brought over two lighters from Sydney, and he knew of cases where Scandinavian vessels were brought out, and after competing with the ordinary freight carriers, were sold locally. He also referred to the bandicar* the ship-builders wero under in having to pay a duty on imported parts. Quite recent!v a large ferry steamer was built in Auckland, with a capacity for 1300 iMssengers, but it cost £700 more to build her in Auckland than she could have been built for in Sydney At this stage the Conference adjourned till 8.30 this morning.