LABOUR IN COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 6

LABOUR IN COUNCIL.

WATERSIDE 'WORKERS' FEDERATION

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

Tho annual i conference ,of delegates from J affiliated Unions of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' . Federation was resumed yes- . tot-day- in' the No.- 2, Committee Room, at the" Town Hall, Mr. F. Burton, president of c the Wellington Union, presiding. ■: TIMBER AND CARGO SLINGS. ( Tho ■ discussion .on .'overloaded cargo slings, initiated' on the preens afternoon, was con- £ tinucd. The remit from tho Greymouth j Union advocated a reduction of 'tho carrying limit of timber slings to a maximum of two tons, ! or 800 feet' of timber; This was ulti- j mately amended to read that tho limit bo j fixed at one ton, or '400 foot of timber. j , international transport' 1 'WORKERS. ; Mr D. M'Laren tabled, tho following re- j mit from the Union' That the j Federation enter into alDliation with the International -Workers' TJns, 1 said .the speaker, ,>as a big question, and, siheo framing tho abovo.remit, ho had'come j ix> tho conclusion that tho whole position should bo thoroughly reviewed before dennite ] steps were takenj ,and with this end in view j he would ask. leave. to amend tho remit as, , follows:— • '. . . ■ . ■ ' "That in the opinion of this Conference - preparations should "bo mado.- towards .-..ultimate affiliation: with tho International ' Transport-Workers' Federation." , ; Mr. Kelly (Wellington), seconded, and tho ; motion,' after, a short discussion of a favour- ;; able nature, was adopted. : . , SYSTEMATIC! ORGANISATION. " Systomatic - organisation of the .smaller ports'in'New Zealand'was, in the opinion' of Mr. M'Laren;-'a necessary undertaking, and he tabled a motion-.in-accordance therewith, for the, consideration of tho Conference. Ho moved:-": \ ' " That it b"e : an instruction to" the in-.

. coming executive to establish an organising 'fund ■ and that tlio Unions bo* asked to contribute thereto; _ the executive to ■ ' be empowered' to 'appoint 'agents to .ex'pend out of such fund such sums as are • necessary * for the.' establishment -of . Unions at_ any' of the smaller ports not . , vet-organised.". . '. l . . Mr. ;Gibb (Auckland).seconded.pro forma,, and gaVe it a's. ; his opinion that the confer-, ence should go 'further and appoint a paid organiser who .should spend his wholo -timo; in ■ furthering ;tlieir; interests. The employers •had ■, realised 'tlio importance of having the' services .of.' an;'-efficioiiii' organiser, ..and their organisation was' being consolidated ,as a , result. . ! ' . ■ ' '■' , ' Mr. V; Farlan'd (Wellington) • agreed. , The services of .! an efficient organiser - wore absolutely, neccssary. . . : ' Mr; Jackson (Greymouth) was of ' opinion that ; delegates should creep before they walked. The difficulty was mainly one of finance, and'the 1 initial step was; the. institution of a fund. ■ .. iv Mr.': Harney '..(Westport) said that Unions should' bb given an opportunity of debating the question.' Delegates could not very well commit their' Unions to, questions of finance. ■ .Mr. M'Laren explained that' tho appoint-! .mehtVof >a7paid OTgahiseT would be, made by the "General : Trades' atid Labour Federation, a body which it .was hoped ,to, establish. Ho thought; that the. expense', entailed in such; a. step, yoijd not bring *an (adequate return'.' •It seemed to 1 him that the most effective way in which to act was graduaJly to establish a fuiid,'strike where they'could strike effectively, and later on appoint an organiser who might consolidate ,and. strengthen the Unions. The motion was carricd.

■!• ■ ACCIDENT PROVIDENT SCHEME. '..A. remit- was introduced by the Auckland •delegatesiriurging" ,tho Conference to. take "action withj-regard:to !.the institution, under tho auspice's , of,, tho . Government Insurance Departmeiit,''bf an accident provident scheme whereby of' the Federationmmightt t insure .themselves against' , want' when . laid, asido 'by' accidents other than those which come under the scopo of the * Workers' Compensation Act. !Mr. Canhara (Auckland) said that the matter had been brought.before.the Government Insurance, authorities,-who considered that tho questjon was'a big one, involving careful investigation. ■ Tho schemo : was,npt;lrit'ended as a; blow at friendly societies'." '.' X'. ' Mr. Jackson said'that the,scheme was one 'for actuarial experts. . . ' ■Tlio conference resolved that the matter "should Teceivo, its support,- and-tlie' necessary ,'step's be 3aken,^o; r l;ave a;,scheme outlined. ...