TIMBER WORKERS

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1937, Page 3

TIMBER WORKERS

UNION EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union was held on April 9th Present Messrs J. Doyle, President (Chairman). J. Rooney, Viee-Presid. ent, J. Willis, senr., J. Rae, W. Troll, and, B. Topp ami the Secretary. A large amount of routine business wa 1 dealt: with. A worker on the. Otiia line wrote, asking for admittance to the Union. The secretary was instructed to write to the wotker concerned, pointing out that, if any employer was willing to employ him and such employment gave no offence to Union members, and would not cause trouble at any mill, fhe said worker would be admitted into the Union, but the name of the. employer willing to give employment must be sent to the Union secretary beforehand, and the secretary was to confirm the matter before i suing a Union card. As two vacancies on the executive on account of members leaving the district had occurred, it was decided , to- place Mr A. Hill, of To K'nga, on ' the executive for the Otira Line d'striet, and Mr J. Holmes, of Ross, on the executive for the Hokitika trictThe president and secretary were appointed to represent the union at the Unity Conference. Accounts totalling £52 2s, as paid, were approved. The following Lst of amounts received by Mr L- Dewe of Kumara on account of the Aldridge Benefit Fund was submitted: Steel and Reedy £1 Packers £4 4s lid, Terewhati £4, Ruatapu £4 10s,) Koiterangi 19s 6d. Atarau £l, Ruru £2 Bs, Totara Flat £2 9s, Maekleys £2, 25,. Coal Creek £2 3s 6d, Nelson Creek £1 12s J>d, Fergusons £1 Is 6<L Wataroa 18s,, Harihari £1 17s, South Beach £3 10s 6d, Kapotahi £4, Ho Ho £2 10s, Harihari £1 16s. Bell Hill £3 10s. G’lbeuts £5. Aritika 12s, Hokitika £3 12s 6d. Gladstone Siding 18s, Gladstone Siding £2 9s, Mananin £2 Ils 6d. Ross £2 Ils fid, Pa tarn £2 15s, Berlins £2 15s 6(1. Arnold Siding 14s 6d, Camerons £2 2s, Bruce Bay £1 15s 2d, Kumara Timbers Ltd- £2 14s 6d, Rutherglen £l, Westport 15s\ Kumara Hall Committee £5, Kumara Football Club £4; total £9O 9s Id- The comm'ttee wish to thank all those who contributed to the above benefitThe secretary’s report on the Unity Conference, stated:—The most import, ant Industrial Conference ever held in New Zealand was held in Wellington commencing on tlie 14th inst, wltvi about eighty.five per cent, of the unions In New Zealand were represented. Air P. Ftaser, aeting.Prime Minister, open, ed the conference and, in doing so, pointed out that he hoped the difference

existing between certain industrial see: tions would all be eei aside, and the conference decide to build up an industrial movement in this country worthy of the unions represented. Mr P. C. Webb, Minister of Mines and acting- , Minister of Labour, was, elected as Chairman of the, Conference, and Mt A. MeLngan viee-Chairnmn. were unanimously adopted to re-establish the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and by the tone of all delegates to the conference the future of the industrial movement in this country will now be built up on sound . lines, and' room for every union in New Zealand within the ranks of the re-established Federation ha s been pro. vided for. All delegates' pledged them, selves to wotk for the building up of the Federation on strong lines, both locally and internationally. If delegates go back to their unions with the same ■ enthusiasm as was sm.»wn at the conference there is no doubt as tc there ultk, and a movement will be built up that will be irresiut-’ible by the employers, and be the means of Imtlering the conditions of the workers in Hie near future. Your union was the first to pay the eapita'tion, amounting to £32 10s, wtliiich was ;>r..i' as soon as the amount of capitation was decided upon. The secretary also reported the matter of certain holidays not being paid for should b e finalised on May 4 next, when a test case will be taken in the Court at Greymouth. There appeared to be no doubt that Boxing Day will have to be paid for where workers did not work after December 23 last, as in this case the week was not a full one unless Boxing Day is paid for.