FURNITURE TRADE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 9

FURNITURE TRADE.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION- T__r.EQßAll.) WELLINGTON, May 20. A deputation from the Wellington Furnituro Union waited on the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Labour, regarding grievances between the. Labour Department and the Union. It was complained that the Union was unable to get tho Department tp take up cases acainst employers for breaches of award- or concerning inspection of factories. The Union had been forced to'take up the position at present that it would not submit any further cases tp the Department. It w_s suggested that tho Act should be amended to provide that definite costs be awarded in the event of "unions'conducting their own-cases.

In his reply, the Hpn. Mr Millar said he thought there was in the present instance'some littje cause for friction, and this should be removed. Tho Department could not pro,periy carry out its duties without the co-operation of the union secretaries. The Department had Hie onus thrown on it by Act of Parliament to see that only cases of actual breaches were taken, apd he had told the officers that they must not take up* pettifogging cases. He could not admit that factories in a particular trade should be inspected simply because the secretary of the Union gave a wholesale order that such should be done. Regarding the question of costs, the Court had the power in its discretion to grant theni. If the Union was dissatisfied with its treatment, it should communicate with the Minister of Justice. If the Union knoxv of any breach. Or anything wrong in the factories, and notified the Department, he was perfectly certain that attention would be paid to it.

CABLE NEWS.