TIMBER WORKERS

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

TIMBER WORKERS

REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTERS VARIOUS REFORMS DESIRED The resolutions adopted by tho annual conference of the .Federated Timber Workers of New Zealand were placed before tho Minister of Labour (Sir William Herricst), tho Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates), and the Minister of Forestry (Sir Francis Bell) yesterday by a deputation. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., introduced tho delegates. , Mr. H. Hunter said tho timber workera were pressuring again some of the resolutions that they had adopted in previous years. They recognised that the Government had been hampered by the war, but they hoped that attention could bo given to their representations. They asked that hours of work under the Shops and Offices Act should be reduced from 52 to 48 per week. This was necessary because the shop hours affected kindred industries. They wanted the Government to nationalise the banking institutions, in the interests of all the people, and to regulate the insurance business on behalf of tho people. Less than 50 per cent, cf the premiums paid returned to the people affected. The conference desired that the Government should arrange to give financial assistance .to organisations of workers, just as it gave assistance to settlers. Tho workers should be assisted to Tim co-operative industries. Tho conference asked also that tho -Government should assist co-operative societies to get goods at reasonable prices. Theso societies, formed to combat the high cost of living, were hampered by combinations among the merchants and importers. '

Mr. B. Topp asked for a "mill to mill" provision in the timber industry. The miners had an eight-hour day "bank to bank," but (he timber workers had to work eight hours in the bush even if tho journey from the mill and back to the mill occupied another three hours daily.

Mr. F. Turley suggested that union representatives should bo allowed to accompany Government inspectors on their rounds. The accommodation for timber workers was often very had and the union representatives should be allowed to make suggestions. He complained that Mho inspection of machinery in Westland- was not adequate. One inspector Jiad been provided for Westland and Duller. Recently this officer had been, granted an assistant, but he was not covering the ground adequately. Two accidents had occurred recently on one plant near Holtitika, through the, same cause, but the inspector, when asked to intervene, had said that ho would inspect the plant when lie had time. The inspector, said Mr. Turley, was doing much work outside his Department. Boys and girls under sixteen years of age should not be allowed to work in bush sawmills. Mr. Turlc.y remarked that the timber workers wished to follow constitutional methods, but they were determined to secure necessary reforms. If the Government would not move they might have to adopt other methods. Sir Francis Belli It is no good firing blank cartridges. Mr. Turley: I don't know that the cartridge is altogether blank. Members of the deputation asked also for restriction on tho immigration of Asiatics and for the release of military offenders. The men convicted of military offences might h*ve done wrong, said Mr. T. CByi'iic, but the time had como to forgive and forget. Sir William Herries, in reply, said that tho matters mentioned by the deputation would bo placed before Cabinet. One or two of them were covered by Bills presented to the House ,> by the members of tho Labour Party, and the sawmill workers would be able, if they wished, to give evidence before tho Lab. our Bills Committee. Tho Government would' consider the Bills when they were reported from the committee. Mr. Herries added .thai if the inspector of machinery on the West Coast had too largo a district, he would be prepared to recommend the appointment of an additional officer or the division of the district.