WHARF LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 594, 24 August 1909, Page 9

WHARF LABOURERS.

.;.,..- ■——»— — ■ .■ . CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. HEADQUARTERS TO BE AT LYTTELTON RADICAL CHANGES. On resuming at 9 a.m." yesterday, the Waterside Workers' Conference did business in committee for two hours. - • .The business dono in committee (and afterwards, communicated, to. tho press) included matters of considerable importance to the federation.- ,It was decided that the executive to. govorn the federation for tho incoming year be the executive of the Lyttelton - Stevedores' Union. Mr. D, M'Laren, M.P., declined a renominatibn. for tho secretaryship, stating that •■ lie thought the secretary should bo located at the executive headquarters. . Ho accepted the new position of organising .secretary, in regard to which it was stated that provision is to be made in the rules' to give such.officer full status as an officer of the federation. Other officers wero: elected as follow:— President, Mr. J, Reed; vice-president, Mr, J. Jackson; secretary, Mr. flr R'. r Voyce; treasurer, Mr. F. Lurch: trustees, Messrs. L. Honsley and, G. Wal.kline.- . ■' .. : , Tho. British Budget. It was, resolved: "That this conference congratulates tho .Right'. Hon; Lloyd-George upon the introduction of his Budget on tho ground. that ■ it '-.is an honest attempt to grapplo with the evils of land monopoly in, Great Britain." .'.■•'. I- •'•.,•■■"'■■'■' Tho conference resolved to postpone tho matter of federating with tho 'Australian Waterside Workers' Federation until after tho organising secretaryihas visited 'iho various ports!The conference ; also adopted the balanceshoot and report as read, and resolved that i tho federation pay the- expenses of all delegates attending the conference.-. :>i.•'.,-;•;. ; ;-;•"'•"■' A\ Visitor.- -■■•■ When the doors were opened after the' committee proceedings, Mr. E.Trogear, Sec-, retary for Labour, entered, and ,wds. wel-. corned as a, visitor by. tho chairman. N9xt; Conference. .Mr; M'Laren, M.P.j in moving that tho next conference bo held in Christchurch.or Lyttelton, alluded to the removal of the.executive- headquarters to Lyttelton. He believed the chango would make for increased strength, and'ho congratulated the Lyttelton. Union on tho progress it had.made. : Tho motion was carried, after tho.defeat of an.'amendment,-, moved by Mr. Jackson -(Groymonth), in favour of meeting in Wellington during tho session of Parliament next year.'.Mr.''Jackson was tho-only dissentient Iroin the motion. It was. resolved to hold the next conference in,' August,, 1910. ; ■ The-secretary's salary .for the ensuing year; was fixed at £26. It was resolved .that the conference each year'vote a sum of money to the organising secretary as honorarium. _ ; The conference decided that the capitation fee'for each; union be*ls; per, financial mem-, ber, and that payment be made every quar-. tor, as■ provided.in ; the rules. • ' ;'. ..-; Creotlngs. It was resplv.cd to send fraternal greetingsto' tlio:-' International' Transport' Workers' Union, tho Australian Waterside Workers' Federation, and tho Trades, and Labour Coun--oils of the-Dominion. "The unityof Labour, is of tho world," said Mr. M'Laren, M.P.,- in moving to abovo effect. ; . .To Approach tho Covornment. •.['■ The officers of.tho local union, were deputed to make certain representations to tho Government, on behalf of tho conference. 'The incoming executive was empowered'to publish tho official report of the/proceedings, and.to;determine the,'number of copies. '

.;.•.;","■ •;"■."■.'•'■""''■''"'Thanhs. '•■ -,'".". '.;'■.:■ ■ Votos-of thanks were accorded to the past officers' of the'union, the City Council (for. use of room)r!th5 v, pro3s,".the-chairman,s.-the ■ coiiforenco' secretary (Mr/'.J. Jackson), tho 'retiring secretary of the federation (Mr. D. ,M/iiarcn,;;M^p,).,;:.; -; ,;!: ;, ■' :-' 'It'"wds.resolved : .tb 'ask the" incoming'executive to present a token of esteem to Mr. T. .Smith, who is retiring from the: position of "treasurer, lit'ter..performing.■■ the: work gratuitously for several years. : ■'■'■■■■■;:■.,