TIMBER WORKERS' FEDERATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 241, 6 July 1920, Page 3

TIMBER WORKERS' FEDERATION

———♦ OONCIiUSION OP. CONFERENCE. The following motions were carried at the concluding sitting of tho annual con ference of tho New Zoaland Timber Workers' Federation:— That tha Government he requested to instruct tho Inspection of Machinery Department to make it compulsory for all Inspectors of machinery to see that breast-bench saws are protected by a "fin," and that all looomotives have effective brakes attached and kept in good; working order. That the Government be requested to provide adequate pensions for all widows and. orphans. That the Government be urged to amend the Bankruptcy Act, 1908, in the direction of providing that all workers' .wages shall he a first claim on the property of a bankrupt, as, under the jjrosent Act, wages have fourth claim onlyT That tho secretary be requested to communioate with all unions linked up with the federation, asking them to take a ballot of their members on tho question of forming ono big union of timber workers throughout Now Zealand.. That the Government be requested to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act by deleting the provisions of section 107, providing that a postal Dallot of all members, of a union must be taken to seciiro confirmation of • a resolution passed at a special meeting . - of tho union, convened for the purpose, to cito the. empSoyers beforo tho. Council of Conciliation or Ariitration. Court for , R-new agreement, award, .or an enforcement of same... It was generally admitted | that the ballot was an unnecessary trouble and expense, and served no' useful purpose. The following rertlts from Westland were adopted on the motion of Messrs. Hurley and TopiJ:-The provision of an eight-' hour' day from mill to mill for bußhmen. That legislation be enacted prohibiting the employment, of either boys or girls under sixteen years of nee in connection with bush sawmills. That the Government be urged to appoint inspectors to Inspect bridges, tram lines, . and skidsi in connection with the timber milling , industry, to ensure satisfactory orpvi«ion. That copies of conference decisions" , -' be -supplied to the Labour members of ' Parliament with a request that they endeavour to have siyne given effect to. That the Gorornment he again requested to grant an amnesty to all offenders against the Military Service Act and War Singulations. It was resolved, on the motion of' Messrs. •Phelan and Tuiloy, that a levy of 6d. per member be struck on'all members of . the', federation. Messrs. }?.• Phelan, T. O'Byrno, F. Turley, and H. Hunter were reappointed as the Advisory Board for the noxt twelve ... months. It was decided that the executive be located at Ohristchurch for tho ensuing twelve months, and that tho next conference ho held at Wellington in 1921. Mr. H. Hunter (Canterbury) moved: That the conference urge the Government to grant financial assistance, by way of loans, to co-onerativo societies; also to provide facilities for snch societies' to obtain necessary commodities direct from producers, and to loan money:to industrial organisations of workers, to enable them to .participate in. and If necessary control, production under the co-operative system—Tho motion was carried. A hearty vote of thanks and appreciation was passed to tho secretary. Mr. H. Hunter,, for his work during the past year, and an honorarium of £15 was granted..