LABOUR IN COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 259, 25 July 1908, Page 6

LABOUR IN COUNCIL.

WORKERS' HOMES. NATIONALISATION PROPOSALS. • VARIOUS REMITS DISCUSSED. • The- annual Conference of the Now Zealand Trades and Labour Council • was continued'at 9 o'clock'yesterday morning, Mr. J. Thorn being : in the chair. Consideration of remits was resumed. WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR. ACCIDENT. Mr. A. Hart (Canterbury) moved ■ That the Workers' Compensation for Accident Act be amended to provide that a worker shall receive his full aver- , age wages upon meeting with an accident while working for his employer, such "payment 'to continue until lie resumes work. lie motion was carried. SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT. Mr. Breen moved:— (a) That the Conference be asked to recommend the abolition of the late closing night now existent in shops in order to bring grocers, drapers, and other shop assistants under the same hours of: labour as prevails in trades, and that 'the Government be, urged to introduce legislation to provide for a universal compulsory Saturday half-holiday, (b) That the . Government be urged to amend the Shops and Offices Act, giving the police power to see that tho provisions of the Act are complied with. . The mover said that there was no necessity for any late night in the week. Mr. Rusbridge expressed the reverse' opinion. The first portion of the motion was carried; Mr. Breen and Mr. Rusbridge spoke strongly in favour of the Saturday nalfholiday. , Mr. Carey also believed in the proposal, and the Wellington Trades and Labour Council had set up a committee to get the necessary 10 per cent, of the workers to sign a petition in its favour, and he had no doubt that before long it would obtain' in Wellington. Many, thousands of workers) not governed by the Act, were sweated,. and had no half-holiday at all. A legal weekly day of rest was absolutely necessary, and_ on the Continent it had been conceded. His Union did not mind which was the half-holiday. They would bo glad to get a Sunday. Tramway men, hospital nurses, etc., should also receive a holiday at some time. A Voice: The wives? _ ' Mr. Carey: Yes, the wives, too (Should get a holiday. He continued that he knew of men who had never had a day off for throe years. He moved in the direction indicated. It. was decided to bring the' mattfir up later.

' Mr.. Hart was in favour of Saturday, as if a.'man enjoyed himself thoroughly on a Wednesday afternoon he was unfit for work the nest day. He also thought the hour of closing on the half-holiday' should be noon instead of one o'clock. . The'. Saturday half-holiday, portion of the remit . was carried. •" Mr. Breen then moved the adoption of . the latter part of tho remit' dealing with, giving the''police power to see' that. tho Act was enforced. Mr.. Carey complained thatalthough restaurants should close at 11.45 p.m., ho had never seen an inspector. enforcing that provision. 'It should be the duty of the polico to report such an occurrence. It paid proprietors during busy seasons to keep open and chance it. They heard a lot about obedience to the law, but it that it was the' workers. only who were required to obey, and not the' employers. Mi;, Rusbridgo said the inspectors were overworked, and he thought that tho police should be given power to report breaches. Mr. Caroy then moved that the Government legislate in the direction of a legal weekly day of rest for workers. ■ Tho motion was carried unanimously. . PROTECTION OF WITNESSES. Mr. Henry moved ■ ' That the Government be urged to introduco legislation this coming session , similar to that existing in the Mother Country, viz.: To make it a punishable . offence to operate against any witness ■ after he has given' evidence 'in any Court.' ' ■ - The mover gave an .instance of a man who was dismissed for telling the truth at an inquest. If he told lies, he would have been charged with perjury. It was absolutely necessary that men in such cases should receive protection. The motion was carried unanimously; NATIONALISATION OF INDUSTRIES. The-two following remits were nest'considered:—

That the urged to nationalise tho following industries of the . Dominion, viz., by starting State ,(a) saw-, milling, (b); ironworks, (c) boot factories, (d) bakeries, (o) clothing.-factories, (f) banking facilities. That tho Government be urged to establish clothing and boot factories,.flour . and woollen mills, bakeries, ironworks, and iron- shipbuilding yards, and to nationalise tho marine coastal and inter- , colonial service. Mr. Parkp suggested that the medical profession should be added. The Chairman: Nationalise the lot. The proposal was agreed to. Mr.; Howard moved that the Government Savings Bank bo made a national trading bank. ' : Several delegates spoke strongly in favour of tho motion. Mr. Westbrooko moved as an amendment that all industries be nationalised as opportunity offerod. Mr. Alsweiler complained that money could be found.for the entertainment of tho American fleet, but'not for the assistance of small industries. Mr. Breen condemned the present combinations regarding commodities. He said, there was no reason why the Government should let out - contracts for snpplios to . civil servants, such as uniforms. Mr. Parke ; said that this age would be considered as the age of shoddy. Mr. Hickey complained that the workers could not gain by the nationalisation of industries. Railway employees were no bettor ■off than other employees. _ The only solution was the socialisation of industries and the abolition of the wage system. The Chairman said the best thing to do was to reduce the cost of living, and therefore private competition should be eliminated. State farms should be gono on with instead of. running experimental farms> at great loss, for farmers. ,The price of wheat would.be reduced) and bread could be placed on the market at-a cheap rate. Mr. Westbrooko: And no bakers' strike. The Chairman said that nationalisation was not tho only tbing they should • go for. They should see that the State did not exploit tho products of labour. The railways were nationalised, and the men wero robbed 'of their civic rights. . , Mr. Westbrooko said that if tho Government started timber depots for selling timber they would inflict the greatest possible blow to the "ring." It was docided to add the words "especially those industries conncctcd with the necessaries of life." Mr. Hickey moved:— : That tho Government discontinue leasing or alionating the mineral: lands of : the Dominion with the view of the State undertaking tho working of all mineral resources. The motion was carried. Mr. Hickey moved:— That this Council urgo upon the Government tho necessity of cancelling the agreement leasing the Para Para iron deposit to tho late Sir A. J. Cadmau, and that the State undertake tho working of the iron deposit in the people's interest. -The. motion .was. carried.

OLD ACE PENSIONS. Mr. Alsweilor moved:— That .the old ago pensions be increased to 12s. 6d. per week, and the Act so amended to provide that all persons rendered incapablo of earning their living, either from accident, sickness, or natural infirmities, be entitled to the pension rogardless of ago. limit. .! • •That tho "Old Ago Pensions Act' be amended to include that all persons suffering from: total permanent disablement, 'through accident or sickness, shall bo eligible to receive tho benefit of the pensions under the Act. Mr. Hart : was in favour of a greater increase if the country could stand it. The'motion. was carried. ' ■ WORKERS' HOMES. Mr. Henry moved:— That in the opinion of this Conference it is tiiiie the Government -took into con- ; sideration the housing .problem and bring down a Fair Rent Bill. The mover said that the Government had only tinkered with the question. Thousands of workers' homes were needed. • The Government said they could, not get land, but if that was so, they should devise some pioans to see that the workers should not be robbed, as they were at present, in the matter of rent. Mr. Alsweiler said that some-of the. homes at Potone were marked "to let," and he thought the workers should go out there. It was a curious state of affairs. Mr. Carey said that the Government could not compel a person to let his house at a low'rent if twonty or thirty people were running after it. Regarding the houses at Coromandel Street, they raised tho rent of tho surrounding houses by refining the neighbourhood. He moved that the reference to the Fair Rent Bill be deleted. 1 . Mr. Westbrooke did not think that such a Bill would have any effect. It was like a " fair weather Bill." Mr. Howard did not believe that the Government had tried to copo with the difficulty; thoy had merely done it when New . Zealand required an advertisement. He knew that if the Government proposed .to buy some land, some one got to know, and the value went up. Ho did not know how it happened, but all knew that it did happen. He knew of a block of laud in one of the healthiest, parts of Christchurch that was available, and it could be obtained cheaply for'the purpose. Mr. Rusbridge thought that the landlord was one of the biggest drags on the workers' existence. He believed that the Government were in earnest in the. matter, and the system' should bo continued and not be suspended. . • ■ Mr. Howard explained that he thought tho Government was not in earnest in not pursuing tho policy. Mr. Reardon said a ' tax .on land values might bo effective. ... * Mr. Lightfoot thought that a Fair Rent Act would become another Arbitration Act, as it would' be so difficult to decide upon what Was a fair rent. ■ _Mr. Breen thought that, what relief such a Bill would give should be' accepted. The amendment to delete reference to the Fair Rent Bill was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman. Mr.-Hickey moved: —: That the Government . be urged to build workmen's homes in industrial centres, .or adjacent thereto, more speedily than in the past. ' , '

The mover mentioned that five workmen's homes were erected in his' district from the miners' funds,' and he asked the Conference to urge that they be put'on the same footing as the occupiers of the Government homes. •The manager of the mine, if-a man displeased him, could not only' dismiss .him, but' oust him from l the dwelling. : . " Mr. Foster seconded the motion. He said that the workers at the niine mentioned should have the right ,to ballot for tho homes. Mr; Long said that the Government had never attempted to go into the thing seriously; It was a fiasco. Only about seventy odd houses had been built, and 700 in each centre would not have been : sufficient. •, ( Mr; Rusbridgo did not agree with the idea of blaming/the • Government.- for. everything. .What did - they: want? . Mr. Carey: Independent Labour. Mr. Rusbridge: You will have a nice state of affairs then. Mr.- Cooper recognised the Government's difficulties, and he would not join in blaming them. Ho knew that it would be very hard to get suitable land in Wellington. The Conference would do more effective work if they reduced the fictitious land values .at present obtaining; '■ It would be as well to put on a heavy land tax, and thus knock the bottom out of it. ' '. . Mr. M'Laren 'said he did not tjiink that the present method was satisfactory. Local authorities should remove houses unfit for habitation. ; Tho motion was carried. - A CISBORNE MATTER. At this stage. the Chairman read a telegram from Gisborne stating- that the• Gisborne Harbour Board: had joined .with the Employers'. .Federation.

Mr. Roardon moved that the Government be asked to take the matter into consideration; It was a most objectionable proceeding for any public body, to take up. Mr. Carter seconded. '

Mr. Rusbridge agreed that it was a wrong action for. a public body .if tlio telegram wasauthentic. (Laughter.)' Mr._ M'Lsren said that ] tho Employers' Association had asked the ■ City Council to join with them 'in contesting labour cases, but the City Council always replied that it could' not take sides either way. (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried. NATIONAL ANNUITIES. Mr. Brown moved That the Conference be requested to ondorso the principle: of tho National Annuities Bill, and urge upon the Got- , ernmcnt to press the Bill forward and pass it into law. The words "and that the Bill be amended so as to bring aIT unions ' that provide for superannuation and sick funds registered under tlio Conciliation and Arbitration Act under.the operation of the, Bill" were added, and the motion was carried. , ' " MADE IN NEW ZEALAND. : Mr. Whiting moved. That all- goods manufactured in New Zealand shall be branded made in New Zealand. The mover said the New Zealand-made article was as good as any in 'the world. He requested the delegates to ask their unions to carry the proposal into practice. Mr..Breen thought that the maker's name should be included. With the addition of the suggestion regarding the maker's name, the motion was adopted. LABOUR REPRESENTATION. Mr. O'Byrne moved: — That the Government be urged to S appoint Labour representatives on, Harbour .Boards; Charitable Aid Boards, Land-Boards; and all other institutions where they have the power of appointment. . An amendment by Mr. Lightfoot, to urge the Govornment to extend the Parliamentary franchise_ to tho election of all local bodies, was carried. EDUCATIONAL. i Mr. Howard moved: — _That the Government be urged to introduce the single desks into all now schools, and to all additions to existing schools. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Howard said that money would bo better spent in this way than in entertaining tho American fleet or boring a'hole in a rock in order that private enterprise would get its goods carried cheaper. (Laughter!) With the addition of tho word "adjustable" the motion was carried. The romit, that a uniform set of school books bo provided, by. the Government freo of charge, was adopted without discussion. LABOUR UNDER CONTRACT. Mr. Long moved:— That this Conference considers that ■ the time has now arrived when the Go-

vernment shall introduco legislation this • session of Parliament to prevent the in-, troduction of labour to-the Dominion under contract. Mr. Hickey said that many came here with« out knowing tlio true state of affairs. The- motion was carried. • OTHER REMITS. The following remit was next considered That the Government be urged to' amend the Electoral Act making it illegal for any candidate-for Parliamentary honours to make donations within three . months of an election. Mr. M'Laren did not think it would be at all effective. The" evil could only be checked by educating the people. The motion was carried.' Tho next remit was!— That tho Conference is of opinion that it is not desirable to subsidise any 6hip- " ping company,' and urge the Government to take the necessary steps to carry their oversea mails. An amendment by Mr. M'Laren that th< Government establish a ferry service betweon Lyttelton and Wellington was carried. Mr. Henry moved:— That the Government be congratulated on the introduction of the Tramways Amendment Act of last session, and that the Premier be urged to re-introduce the measure this session and pass it into law. The mover said the Amendment Act prf vided for tho examination of brakes. The motion was carried. The following remit was adopted:— " That the Conference pass a resolution affirming the citizens' right to' employment at a living wage. 4 Mr. Long.moved:— That the Government be urged to so amend the Municipal Corporations Act to provide that the duties of a borough or suburban building inspector include the issuing of certificates showing- the class of material a building is composed of, tho said certificate to be filed in the Borough Council's office for inspection. Tho mover complained that in Auckland too much jerry-building went on. - Mr. Rusbridge said that it was not confined to Auckland. • The motion was agreed to. The following resolution was also carried ?-» That this Conference re-affirm the principle of rating on unimproved value, also re-affirm the resolution passed at the 1905 Conference, viz.: That the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act shall provide that where a worker by,reason of injury is permanently incapacitated from following his own .trade or occupation, he shall be entitled to draw the full amount , allowed by the Actj and that in such cases tho name of the trade or calling in which the worker was injured be specified. Mr. Breen then moved that the resolution be forwarded to the Councils for confirmation. This was'carried. _ „ Tho Conference adjourned at 5.40 p.m. until 9 o'clock this morning. ;