LABOUR CONFERENCES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13569, 2 November 1909, Page 8

LABOUR CONFERENCES.

J ♦ FURNITURE TRADE. 9 (press association telegram.) ' WELLINGTON, November 1. Delegates representing ihe Working J Furniture Trade Unions of New Zealand met in conference to-day. Mr D. G. Sullivan, Christchurch, was elected chairman. I The conference .decided to form a \ federation of the furniture trades, the name of the Federation to be "TJbo New Zealand Furniture Trades' Indus- ' trial Association of Workers." The . objects of the Federation are to * effect unity in the different furniture trades, and to foster the interests of workers engaged therein. 1 During the discussion on the motion, Mr D. Moriarty (Wellington) said Wellington was in a very good position, but they must look further ahead. In * many parts of New Zealand things were in a very bad state. Many districts needed organising and forming up, and a federation of the furniture ' workers would put the trade on a bet--7 ter footing. 1 Mr W. S. Pattison (Dnnedin) remarked that in the North Island many men were said to be working for less j than the standard wage. Mr H. Bank-field (Auckland) referred, to the apathy displayed in Auckland in 9 regard to such questions. The workt era were "all there" if it was a question affecting their own pockets. Personally he would go a step further than ' federation, and have amalgamation— one society and branches. The Chairman eaid that Christchurch a had looked for federation for a long f time.