TIMBER WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 15540, 9 July 1914, Page 3

TIMBER WORKERS

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER [Pek United Pkess Association.] -WELLINGTON, July 8. A deputation from the Federated Timber Workers' Union waited on the Prime Minister to-day in order to lay before him, among other matters, the objection to tho importation of foreign timber in small sizes, which deprived local workers of a considerable amount of employment. They asked that a duty be placed oil all timbers under the size of 12in by 12in. The deputation asserted that it had been found that when wages were raised by the Arbitration Court 5 per cent, the price of the commodity affected often went up to 15 per cent.* They suggested an amending Act, so that employers shall not raise prices unices it is proved to the court that thev have a claim to do so.

lit replying, Mr Massey said there was a Certain, "amount of force in tho Tequeet in regard to an increased duty on t-mall-s'.ze timbers, aid he would give it his attention. The Government would gladly help in stopping employers from raising prices. Tho Forestry Department was experimenting with a variety of poplar as a substitute for white pine for batter boxee. It was th? intention to establish a State sawmill in Wnipoua forest. The difficulty in regard to the carriage of "ehorts" was that, the railways must pay their way. It depended on 'fthe Way Parliament got through its work whether tho Government would deal with the Workers' Compensation Act. As to the suggestions to put an export duty on butter, Mr Masst'.v pointed out there was a serious danger in tampering with exports. They should encourage exports in every possible way. No doubt butter might be too dear in New Zealand. He was utterly opposed to any comßination for putting up prices, and was prepared to introduce legislation to prevent it. As to a union's liberty to spend funds as it deemed fit, Mr Massey pointed out- that the present law applied to the registration of a union only for the purposes of the Act-. It seemed to him that a trade union was not intended to be a political association. It was hardly fair to use the funds of a minority for purposes which it did not approve.