FURNITURE-WORKERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1909, Page 8

FURNITURE-WORKERS.

PEDERATIQN AND ORGANISATION. Discussion of federation, its constitution aud organisation, occupied the, morning session of the Furniture Workers' Conference to-day. Mr. D. G. Sullivan was in the chair. With certain amendments, a suggested constitution was finally adopted;, with a provision that it should ba referred to the different unions for consideration. On Ih"e motion of .Mr. Banfield, that the federation should establish a tuncral benefit fund", there was some difference of opinion, some thinking such a matter should be left to the unions. It was finally agreed that the proposition should not be incorporated in the dratt constitution, but should be referred to the various unions for approval, the question to be determined on the majority of votes. On the matter of organisation there was considerable discussion. The executive were cmpoweied to carry on organising work in districts without unions and to-nssis^ unions needing help. t .Mr. 3loriarty pointed out that there was no tleoiie to injure the employer, but only to secure better conditions, for the workers. He instanced Taranaki as n district 01 '' blacklegs," where the employees seemed to be wholly at the mercy of the employers. '1 liey worked 47 hours ft week for a wage of £2 10s. in Wellington, on the contrary, the relations between employ eia and employees were most happy. The question of organisation should be a matter for the executive to bear very, strongly in mind. The conference in.en adjourned till the afternoon. On re&uming, Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Ohristchurch) moved that the federation should give their support to the establishment, of a Labour paper for the v.hole Dominion. There were 49,00J trader unionises in New Zealand, but the great majority of them scarcely ever went to a meeting. 'They were quite piepared to pocket all the advantages which the leaders of th'e trades unions obtained for them. They wanted a paper to advocate and voice their views. X v.r.., proposed to h.ive a capital of ££000, lo be paid up in instalments up to 12-- per share. They did not care ■whether it wat published in Auckland or Wellington, or nnywheii' else. "Mr. Pattison. seconded the motion, which v. as endorsed by the other delegate*. ' nml carried. (Proceeding.)