WATERSIDE LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 593, 23 August 1909, Page 5

WATERSIDE LABOUR.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. >' ' ' ' S ■ ' SOME POLITICAL RESOLUTIONS.FLOUR DUTY OPPOSED. The annual conference of tho New Zca.land Waterside Workers' Federation saL again, on Saturday morning, . ,; * Medical Examination. Sir." J. Jackson (Greymoutb) moved: That tho federation oppose a medical lest being applied to workers prior to entering into employment. ■)■•'' The mover referred to tho trouble that occurred at tho mines on .the Coast eeveral mouths ago in connection with the question of medical examination for miners' phthisis, under. tbo Workers' Compensation Act. Ho was sure that if the'medical test was once admitted, it would be applied to workers iu oyery calling. It was easy for a doctor to find something.wrong with the physical condition of j almost any man, if required to do SO. ' ..' . -~'' ■ ::•■■ - ■ itr. J. Lamont (Westport) seconded tho motion, which was carried. , Political Fighting Fund. Mr. J. Qsborue (Greymouth) moved: •••• That, the Waterside Workers' Federation establish a ; political fighting fund in conjunction with the Trades and Labour Councils,. for. the purpose of defraying the election expenses of Labour candidates for local and Parliamentary bodies. ... 'I'he mover suggested a subscription at the rato of'3tl. per month per. member. , Mr; J. Jackson (Greymouth) seconded, and Mr. F k Lurch (Lyttelton) supported the motion. '•■■■;•- ■■ ■ . ■ . Mr. D. Casey;((Napier), said he had, not been able to consult his union on the remit, and lie could not support.it." The federation should not bo a political body. Mr. D. M'Laron,: M.1 , ., strongly supported tho motion. He suggested/ that Is: a year per member should be levied, and the result would, probably be that the benefits would then.be so fully, recognised-that the amount would,be increased by general agreement. Mr. J. Bruton (Wclluigton) : thought the contribution should bo 'on a smaller scale than the mover suggested, but he would support the; motion. , . "•' ' ." ' Mr. D.. M'Carthy (Napier) said his union thought tho federation should not go-in for politics;' He 'did not'think unions were at present in a financial position to subscribe for the purpose of getting Parliamentary! representation! r . '; ~ : : . ■* . ■ 'Air. H..Voyce'(liyttelton).'said ho was. sure !,the members'of his union were notXprepWed to pay 3s. a year each for election purposes. Ho had had no instructions how to Vote oa the motion; and would oppose it. ; •■• ' : The motion was carried by .9 to>6.;' - : ; 'J...:.-, y lmprovement of Buoys.: --..' ,--,' The conference resolved to authorise.representatives to wait upon the Union .Steam Ship Company, ■'•-.urging-. that small- rope ladders should ibo provided, for men to get off mooring-buoys of. hulks, have a life-buoy .kept'in readiness in 'case of accident. It jvas also decided to ask the Harbdur ■ Board to.provido all, .mooring-budys with a small chain attached around tJiem; also that.the outside*rims of buoys .be-raised 6 inches, and a hook with a cfasp be •fastened''on, each','buoy. ... ■ : . . : ■' •:; ".'••':• Organisation. !: ,;"',".: ; , Mr, ,-G.,Wieck (Diinedih) moved:— ••-'. :: ■ . Th,at the secretary sho.uld'visit./the :, leading centres at least oiico.a year.!- : : .. JTho mover said thero was niiicli scope for organising work at Illuff, Invercargill, Dunedin, and elsewhere. ■ ' Tho motion -nus seconded by Mr. Jackson (Groymouth). ' > Mr. M'Lnren said that, if ho continued to act as secretary, he would be very pleased to carry,out the resolution. 1 Hands Across tho Soa. It was resolved to procure twenty copies of the report of l tho last' convention of tbo International Transport Workers' Federation In connection with a letter from the Longshoremen's Union at Portland, Oregon, it was resolved that the federation put itself in touch ;with that organisation witli the object of securing the mutual benefits of both bodies. . Tho Flour Duty. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. 'D. M'Laien (Wellington) :— ' That inasmuch as Uie present Customs tariff presses with undue severity on■'. the workers, this conference is. .otn-. phatic.illy of opinion, that tho timo has arrived, for a radical 'readjustment of taxation, whereby such indefensiblo burdens as taxes on bread shall be permanently abolished. The confcienco.wenl into committee for tho remainder of the sitting, and will lcsume at 9 a in. to-day, with a view to finishing this> morning. -