WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 899, 19 August 1910, Page 8

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

— » : CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH. FURTHER REMITS CONSIDERED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Christchurch, August 18. Tho Waterside Workers' Federation continued its annual conference to-day. Remit No. 7, "That the Arbitration and Conciliation Act be amended, giving power to tho unions to limit their membership to tho number only that can earn a living wage as shown by tho employers' wagc-b,ook for the preceding twelve month's,",, was considered. After discussion the remit was adopted by 17 votes to 3.

Remit No. 8: "That tho Government be urged to bring in an Electoral Reform Bill on tho following lines: First, that all persons over 21 years who have been resident in New Zealand for twelve months, and 'who are naturalised British subjects, shall be entitled to vote for Parliament or any local public body where voting is required; second, that all persons entitled to vote shall vote on an elector's right, the elector's right. to be taken out every twelve months; third, in case of death the elector's right to be lodged, along. with the death' certificate, with the registrar." The first clause of. the remit was withdrawn, and the other two. clauses carried" unanimously.

Remit ! No. 9: "That the Minister for Labour and Marine be asked to include a clause in the Arbitration Act dealing with salvage work either afloat .or asuore." xue remit wua luliy discussed. Xnere'was a consensus of opinion that eacn onion should endeavour to get. the Arbitration Uourt to insert a special salvage clause m its award iu order that the special. nature of the salvage work might bo taken into consideration, ana tlierate oi, pay; lixed accordingly. An amendment'to this .eli'ect was carried. The original .remit was thrown out,' .

Remit No. 10: "That the Minister for Justicb be asked to alter the present constitution ot the Arbitration Court so that any industry applying to the Court should appoint its own assessors, one from the union and one from the employers, to sit with tnc president instead of two permanent/assessors as at present." The remit was unanimously adopted. Remit No. 11: "That the Minister lor Labour bo asked to reduce the weight of wool and ilax in dumps exported from the Dominion, as is being dono in inspect to . cereals and grain sacks." Carried with one dissentient.

Remit No. 12: "That tho Minister lor Labour bu urged tu see that each' and every company and every employer throughout New- Zealand shall be brought under the, W.orknien o. Compensation Act, or any other Act pertaining to tho Veilbeing of the: workers throughout New Zealand." The 'discussion showed that. the remit met with the approval of the delegates; and it was aduplotl unanimously. ;

Remit No. 13: "That the Minister lor' Marine be : urged to appoint inspectorsto examine-the working gear of all cargo', vessels, especially vessels employed m the intercolonial trade, and on the coasts of, New Zealand." The remit was adopted' unanimously. ;

At this stage a telegram was received' from- the New Zealand Federation' of Labour' Conference, sitting in ' Wellington, .conveying fraternal greetings, and suggesting that a conference be held between the executives to discuss the position with : a view to amalgamation for mutual benefit.' Tho communication was received, and consideration of the proposal of; amalgamation was- held over until the remit, dealing with 'the,question-' 'cameup: for discussion. '■'. ' >. ■ .'Remit No'. 14:."That the Minister for. Justice Oje requested to bring down legist, latioii' compelling the police, when sum : ■moning a coroner's jury,'to act on. in-' quest of any person killed or fatally injured while, following their employment,to summon (or as far as possible) only; workers engaged in the particular in-' (histry in which deceased met his death." ; .Tho.remit was. briefly discussed, and cartried without dissent.

:Romit No. 15: "That the Minister for. Labour be asked to bring down an amendment to No. 9, Subsection (C), Section o, ol tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration' Act, -shortening tho period from twelve months to three months in which a member of an industrial union being in -arrears, and, deemed uniinancial .under; Hie. Act."' The,remit :was amended to make the period sixf, months install of: three months, and in its amended form was carried by 16 votes to 4. Remit No.-IB:/'That the Minister, for Marino be asked. to. amend the Shipping' and Seamen's Act to-provide" that no member, of any vessel's crew, shall be allowed to work, on the various wharves and ships handling such, vessel's cargo where shore labour is available." The remit was .unanimously, adopted. .Remit 17: "That the conference in' meeting assembled .'emphatically . affirms the/necessity and justice of'an equitablo aridworkable fair-rent Bill, realising that .the higher rents demanded in tho respective centres of population are extortionAte, and out of all. proportion,to wages." ;Sevoral delegates contended (hat rents ,had {very, materially increased, and corresponding increase; had. not been made in wages. The remit was'carried unanimously. - ■ - 1 Remit No. 18: "That the conference endorses Dr. Findloy's proposal to appoint public defenders in each centre of population througliout the Dominion, and urges him to bring down legislation in that direction as speedily as possible." Carried, with one dissentient. ' . .

Remit 19, affirming the desirability for a scheme whereby all workers would be insured by the Government against sickness and death as a result of such sick, ness, was withdrawn on tho ground that a Bill dealing with the matter was .already before the House. Repiit '20,. dealing .with the selection of Labour candidates for Parliamentary and other elections, was held over until the question of the political position of .the federation was'discussed. ■'-.'.; ,'.' This disposed of' the Auckland ' remits.Mr.Dowdall, on behalf of the Wellington Union,' brought forward the remits of his union. . Remit 21: "That the • New .Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation affiliate .with the New Zealand- Federation of. Labour (as registered)" was defeated, and an amendment to the . remit -was under discussion when the conference adjourned.