LABOUR IN CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 238, 1 July 1908, Page 8

LABOUR IN CONFERENCE.

;■ r- ■■■• —— WATERSIDE WORKERS' FEDERATION. OPENING. SESSION. The. annual .conferenco of. delegates frorq tho the affiliated unions..of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation opened yestorday 'morning in- No.: 2 Cbmihitteo Room, Town Hall; 1

The following delegates: were present:— Messrs., D. M'Laren, E.'. Kelly, A. L. Jones, 6.. Farland,; F. iurton (Wellington).; Gibb, J. Cannon (Auckland)V!.J. Wilson, H. Voyce (Lyttolton)';' Gr. A. C.' Hubbard (Dunedi'n); F. M'lntyre (Gjsborne)'; A. Burrows, D. M'Carthy (Napier);. J. Jackson, J. Goodall (Greymouth); and. C. D. Harney(Westport). ' .' . .. . It was decided that though the proceedings would be open, to tho. Preqs, several important, matters would be discussed, in' camera. A" NEW'UNION. The secretary (Mr. D. M'Laren) reported the formation of-; a- new union' at Timaru, .with a • membership of 75 per cent, of the waterside workers. He; recommended that, the new union be givea every assistance by the officers of the Federation, and referred appreciatively, to the valuable help rendered by Mr. Thorn, of Christchur.ch, in the work of its organisation. His services were worthy of recognition, : , The Conference formally adopted the secretary's recommendations. - ; .• • MR. D. M'LAREN; TO VISIT AUSTRALIA. The secretary 'read . two communications from the Australian Waterside ' Workers' Federation, with' reference to the-question of a conference with a delegate from, the New Zealand Federation. This would strengthen, tho relations between the sister organisations. There was also the question of code communication in the event of labour crises, and'tho publication, in the official organ of tho Australian, Federation, of notes on tho progress of the New. Zealand body.

Mr. . Jackson' (Greymouth) thought . that the time was ripe for an alliance with the Australian Federation, and he was of opinion that the'secretary, Mr. M'Laren. would worthily represent the New- Zealalid' Federation. He moved accordingly. The motion was seconded by Mr." Gibbs (Auckland), and carried unanimously. - In acknowledging, the compliment, Mr. M'Laren said that "there might "be some objection raised on tho'. ground that he 'was not a practical .stevedored '• A. similar objection had once been raised against the nomination of Mr. W, H. Hughes as a delegate to tho Marino Conference. in London, on the ground that he was * not a practical seaman, but it;,was. subsequently admittedthat he had done' valuable work. The" Australian Federation had a membership of something ..like '14,000," and . its, federation with the ; General International : Transport Alliarico'.was' but ti matter of time.. He considered' that an alliance with the Australian Federation'was ai desirablo consummation., / A ' The Conforerico. .then considered, in committee/ certain matters in connection .with, the Gisborno and'Dunedin Unions, and subsequently adjourned / . :>*> - . RESOLUTIONS'ADOPTED.: /'•■> • t ' During .tho.. afternoon session the ■ .following'resolutions adopted by thoConference in committee,wore -'Confirmed ■ 1. On the . motion of . Mr. Voyce, seconded by Mr; M'Laren: "That', this. Conferenco endorses' the action' of the Gisborno men in refusing - to.: work:. at '• a reduced rate,' and, if necessary, supports the • Gisborne Uiiion •financially.?! , 2. Moved by Mr. D. M'LarenThat this conference, oiv behalf of the Federation, upholds the action of the Dunedin Union'in demanding the cancellation of their Union's registration.''This was discussed "in committee, and .finally Adopted. . - Mr. M'Laren, in open conference, moved that the Dunedin Union, when re-registering adopt the title of the, Otago /Watcrsido Workers' Union, so as to infclude witliin its scope the whole of the industrial district.

THE ANNUAL REPORT. The.second annual report of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation, read by the Secretary (Mr.' D. M'Laren); stated that the. first conference was 1 held in 1906. Four Unions were directly .represented, and one by proxy. The-comcrence of 1907 was attended by representatives ,of sis', linionsi' while tho' Wcstport. branch : was represented by Mr. Jackson, of' Greyriiouth.'■ A substan-' tial" increase in membership was reported: • In 1906 the .roll totalled something like 1200; in 1907 it had iri'crease'd to 24(J);-arid tho present numerical strength was 4600 members—an advance equal, "in proportion; to that reported 'by tho Australian:and International Federations. ' The balance-sheet showed that tlie finances of the organisation were sound,-but it would.be.necessary, stated the report, 'for 'a,.more:)iberal .policy of. expenditure", to be;.adopted; -by:; the, .Unions aOiliatod, if. - the' influence' of 'the Federation were to,-be,materially strengthened. Reference ,was, made to.'.thq volilnie,of business transacted by the secretary (Mr. D. M'Lafeif). in replying .to various.queries,. from all quartets,.oil, .matters -touching breachds, and an-' terprotatioris.• of -awards,-. ; cases- under, -the'; Workers',.-Compensation.' Act; '..'and,.' special cases affecting wharf men,, and to'.assistarice--rendered .'.with, 'regard' .to." the • .same .', by. the - President of 'the Wellington Union. (Mr.': F. Burton). .in expressed ."at .the conciliatory spirit shown by the executive, officers of the; Labour Department,,.Mi - . .Tregear, Mr. Lomas, arid tho. . Inspector of Awards' (Mr. Le Creri), on;, question's which constantly:aiiose. for. settlement "at .'the various ports.' >, .Good progress is reported, fromAuckland, 'Wellington (which - has now - the largest membership probably . of. aiiy union in New. Zealand), and NagieV, where by arecent award they had scoured better terms than, those / which' hail' previously; 'obtained. Duhedin' also reported • good progress from its somewhat''poor condition of last'year. We' have''tried;'-' .concluded the' secretary, " the - method of, strikes ~'iii.'the past, './and found -ourselves'"'.where we' were. '. We .'hive tried arbitration,, with: similar results." "It tho unions, ho 'said, to ascertain. , .what mean's, yet .. untried, would, prove of more value' than ' It was,. evident that they must work out. their bwn'.e'conomic emancipation j' f-o shut themselves up;-with the arbitration law and to' dream that all would be'well was. the greatest folly, imaginable. The most important work'before tneiri was that.of .organisation. . ' ' ,

The report, on the motion of' Mr. Voyce, Lyttelton, was adopted.. 1 The" balance-sheet was dealt with in committee. .V: At 4 p'.m; the Conference adjourned until 10 a.m. .to-day.. 1 •