LABOURERS CONFER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 126, 24 November 1941, Page 9

LABOURERS CONFER

TAXATION OF WAGES

PRINCIPLE OPPOSED

The ninth annual conference of the New Zealand' Federated ' Labourers' and Related Trades Industrial Association of Workers was held in Wellington last week. Mr. L. Glover, national president, presided over 23 delegates, representing 14.543 workers, from every part of New Zealand. In his opening address, Mr. Glover said: "Hundreds of our members had joined the Forces and it behoves us to" maintain conditions and if possible to improve them, so that when our com-, rades come back their conditions would be no worse, but indeed better than when they left." This was the keynote of the conference, which was one of the most successful held by the federation. Feeling reference was made to the loss of Mr. Ralph Harrison, who for many years represented Otago at the conference. Mr. A. L. Monteith, workers' representative on the Court of Arbitration, addressed the conference briefly. The annual report and the balancesheet, presented by the general secretary, Mr. P. M. Butler, were adopted unanimously. The report reviewed in brief the 49 different awards or agreements under which the federation and the component unions operated. Mr. Butler said there was scarcely another organisation Mn the Southern Hemisphere^—indeed it was questionable whether there was any other organisation in the world—that was compelled in the interests, of its membership to have so many varied awards and agreements. The financial reports showed that the administrative costs for the Organisation had been £290 2s for the year. RESOLUTIONS PASSED. The following resolutions were carried by the conference: — "That the Government be urged to introduce a weekly wage to all workers," "That the conference make strong representations to the Govei'nment to make immediate provision for payment for statutory holidays for all workers." "That the conference urge the Government to bring in the Holidays with Pay Bill." "That the conference protest against the statement made by the Minister of National Service regarding breaches of the Drivers' Award." That the Federation of Labour be requested to make strong representations to tlie Government for the complete overhaul of the Workers' Compensation Act, -in conformity with the report brought down and adopted at the 1941 conference of tlie Federation of Labour. SCHEME 13 WORKERS. Many delegates expressed disapproval of the treatment-of Scheme 13 men whose services had been utilised in the interests Oj. local bodies, in many cases at no cost to the local bodies. A committee of the conference, consisting of Miss Howard,- Messrs. Gallagher, Scott, Harris, and Mclntyre, was set up to investigate matters complained of, and, after receiving the committee's report, the conference decided: "That the committee, with the officers of the' federation, meet the Minister of Labour and request him to Set up a committee, consisting of representatives of this federation and his Department, for the purpose of setting down a policy respecting Scheme 13 workers and investigating the anomalies ..and injustices arising from the organisation of the scheme at present." HOSPITAL RATING. The following resolution was carried un&nimously:—"This conference directsthe attention of all workers ;to the movement sponsored by the Municipal Association, the Counties'' Association, the Farmers' Union, the Sheep "Owners'. Federation, the Wellington City Council, and the Press, the object of which is to abolish hospital levies on property and to compel the landless majority of ihe people to bear the cost by (a) the further taxation of wages and salaries, or (b) by further indirect taxation, and we declare that hospital maintenance is a prober charge on the community value of land; that it is indefensible, intolerable, aud inexcusable that the richest people, in the land should be relieved.of taxation at the expense of the people who have no property, but who depend on their labour, and we accordingly pledge ourselves to oppose it; and that the wages tax should be abolished altogether at the earliest opportunity."

The conference decided by a large majority to ask the Federation of Labour to take steps for the formation of a National Building Trades Union.

It also passed resolutions objecting to "any possibility of a Coalition Government." and urging the Government to take over control of all patriotic funds.

Mr. F. D. Cornwell, secretary of the Federation of Labour, was elected returning officer for the ensuing period.

Mr. A. J. McLennan was re-appointed auditor.