CONFERENCES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 73, 29 March 1910, Page 8

CONFERENCES.

» TRADES UNIONS IN COUNCIL. FEDERATION ADOPTED. KA&ter-timc used to lie the season of labour conferences, tr..<lo unionists gat lured from all parts of the Dominion to tlu- various lentret. ami disciit*ed in rouiuil matters of rnntti.'il interest, kindred unions nffiliaU-d tor the time bring in belf-intercst. l*n(il the period beginning two years ago Kaster was the regular time »nr trade* and labour <onference«. Th>> prorogation of Parlia-int-iit two scvsion-> ngo necessitated nn alteration from the UKiial dale, nnd tlie coiifereiue, which should have heen held last Easter, aitually took place some month)) later; The late bitting of that conference was also rewpotuuhle for the postponement of the conference whith was tentatively arranged to be held in Auckland this Easter. It was found that there was not sufficient new business to justify the holding of a conference at such a short interval from the last meeting of labour in council. Although there is no general Irades and labour conference this Easter several of the sectional unions are holding their annual federation meetings There are at present sitting in Wellington three such conferences, namely — the Drivers and Carters' Union, the Painters' Union, and the Shearers' Union. The main purpose of the gathering of drivers is to etttablihli a New Zealand Drivers and Carters' Federation. Last yenr rules and regulations governing such a federation were practically settled. This year's conference ha* confirmed the work of its predecessor, and the federation »•< now an established fact. The Painters' Conference, is especially representative. Out of twelve union* in the Dominion eleven are reprrh>tii<>d. The inaiii object of this assembly of painters is to bring about uniformity and unanimity in the matter of subscriptions to the union*, and rules nnJ n filiations' in general The painter* lire aim striving to establish » common award for the industry throughout the Dominion, and to that end the federation in framing a model »et of demandx for future presentation to employer* for the purpose* of an industrial award. The Shearer*' Conference met this afternoon in the TrddeV Hall. At firnt it was thought, owing to the mysterious disappearance of Mr. D.ircy, the late secretary and treasurer, that it would be necessary to postpone the conference. However, the executive branch of the Dominion reported that the hook* kept by Mr. Darcy were in nuh perfect order that th* conference would not be wrionsly handicapped in it* work. It was therefore deeded to proceed with the business. The> Shearer*' Federation ia practically a single union, except that the Act will not allow it to be registered a« a unit. Representatives of thin sec-, tioit of organised labour met to-day, w '*h anew of securing complete unanimity in matters of common Interest. They also purpose to review the shearers' season just over. The personnel of the conferences is aa follows :— Drivers— Welltn«ton : J. Sutherland, A. Parlane, W. J. Jones, D. Blockie ; Dunedin : James Pine • Christchurch : T. Green and H. Hunter ; Auckland: George Davis and Charles Weaver. Painter* and Decorators.— Wellington, W. Cooper, F. Reyling ; Christchurch, H. D. Hart (chairman), W. Bell ; Dunedin, E. Chetwyn, \V. Campbell ; Auckland, H. J. Buckler, J. Buchanan ; Xapier, G. H. Cooke; Palmerston North, A. H. Rogers'; Gisborne, J. H. Hall; Timaru, W. P. Glue; Wanganui, W. Leo ilartin; Ashburton, F. W. M'Pherson. Shearers.— Wellington, A. MT.eod. R. M:'R»e, J. G. Challis, H. H.i«kin.s J. K. Morgan, E. W. Abbott: Canterbury, J. Coopei. J. Heath, Chas. Johnston, V. Wuddell : Otaeo. \\\ Johnstonr, J. C. Metc-alfe, T. Allen ; Mnrlborough, J. Townseiul.