Trades Conference

Hastings Standard, Volume IX, Issue 5177, 20 April 1906, Page 3

Trades Conference

(Per Press Association). Christchurch, April 19 At the Trades Conference a long j discussijn took place relating to the personnel of the Arbitration Court. Mr D. McLaren (Wellington) moved, I " That this conference has no confidence in the Arbitration Court as at } present constituted." He claimed that j the court was giving decisions against j the weight of evideuce and on abj stract grounds. I The motion was seconded by Mr W. ' H Hampton (Wellington). After considerable discussion, the motion wos lost by 5 votes to 11. During the discussion on proposed amendments to the Arbitration Act, I a motion was adopted that the provisions of the Act should be extended to all State employees. Christchurch, April 20 The Trades Conference was resumed to-day. Mr Rosser (Auckland) moved '-That in consideration of the fact that very large quantities of kauri gum is exported to Europe and America without being sorted in the colony, and whereas the sorting in these countries is done by cheap labour to the detriment of Unionist gumsorters in the Auckland province, the conference strongly urges the Government to impose an export duty on unsorted gum over the- value of £4O per ton." The motion was carried with the addition " that the Government be asked to nationalise the gum industry, and pending such action to place a heavy export duty on gum." A motion by Mr Cooper (Wellington) was carried " That the Government be urged to introduce legislation 1 to provide for the registration of all partnerships. The certificate of registration to show the names and occupations of the persons constituting such partnership." A proposal from the Nelson Council " That the Government be asked to provide a penalty for brea3hes of the Shops and Offices Act on statutory holidays," was referred to the Executive. The Conference discussed a motion "That the Government be urged to amend the Electoral Act making it illegal for any candidate for Parliamentary honours to make donations within three month.-? of an election."