WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10308, 29 March 1894, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

fSricciAii to Press association.] VIENNA, March 27. Austrian Socialists are discussing a general stride with the view of securing eight hours and universal suffrage. TRADES CONFERENCE. [Per Pbbbs Association.] AUCKLAND, March 28. The Trades Delegates’ Conference resumed its sittings this morning. The Shearers’ Accommodation Bill, 1893, was considered by the delegates. Clauses 1 to 5 were agreed to, providing the Governor may appoint inspectors under the Act and define districts over which they shall exercise supervision, and that it shall be the duty of every inspector to visit and inspect at least once a year all shearing sheds within the district assigned him. Clause 6 was read and a resolution passed that the attention of the Minister of Labour should be drawn to the necessity of conditions being drawn up for the guidance of the Inspector in reference to sleeping accommodation and the number of cubic feet to be provided for each shearer. The remainder of the Shearers’ Accommodation Bill was passed as printed. The Chinese Immigration Bill as amended was agreed to. A telegram was read by Mr Ward to the effect that six more Chinese had arrived at Wellington already this month, making altogether eighteen arrivals In the colony for the month. The Inspection of Building Appliances Bill, which provides for the inspection of scaffolding and other gear used for the conotruction of works of any kind, was considered. The Bill was passed in its entirety, with the exception of Clausa 10, relating to the recovery of penalties. The Labour Department Bill, providing for the creation of a Labour Department and for declaring the powers and duties of such department, was considered. This Bill was also passed with the exception of Clause 12 in reference to the recovery of penalties. Mr Fitzpatrick (representing the Northern Wairoa Gum-diggers’ Executive) and Mr Williams (representing the Poroti Gum - diggers’ Committee, Whangarei) were admitted to the Conference to lay before the delegates resolutions and suggestions for the relief of the present depressed state of the gum market. The resolutions put before the meeting by Mr Fitzpatrick, on behalf of the Northern Wairoa Gum-diggers’ Union were read. The Chairman moved—** That aa the greater portion of the gum-diggers are now suffering actual want owing to the depressed state of the gum market, this Conference respectfully asks the Government to provide reproductive work for gum-diggers, making roads through the beet Crown lands in the north, the diggers to have the first chance to settle on this land.” > -

After discussion, tho concluding words of tho motion, “ diggers to have the first chance t o settle on the land,” were struck out, and the motion amended by adding the words “ that facilities he given to gumdiggers to settle on these lands.” The motion was then carried. The second motion was then moved as follows That, so as to limit the output of gum and conserve it to the best interest of the colony and its bond fide residents, this Conference asks the Government to enact that no person be granted a license, except he be a British subject; if he be an alien he must become naturalised, and that a person before being granted a license should be twelve months resident in the colony.’ The Chairman moved, as an amendment, to delete that portion of the motion 1 That a person before being granted a license should be twelve months resident in the colony.’” Mr Bain seconded the amendment. It was agreed that Mr Napier, honorary' solicitor to the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, who was invited to be present, should address the delegates relative to the international law. Mr Napier said that the Government could not carry out the motion as proposed, as it was contrary to international law. Eventually the original motion was amended by altering twelve months to six months, and deleting the sentence referring to naturalisation. The motion as amended was carried. The third motion was as follows“ That one-third of the fee derived from diggers* rights be paid to the County Council as rates, each digger to be entitled to vote as a ratepayer, the other two-thirds to form a benefit fund, each digger to have a claim pro rata.” After a short discussion the motion was lost. The fourth motion was then proposed as follows That it be enacted that there shall be only one legal charge for permission to, dig gum on Crown or private lands, namely a royalty, diggers being free to buy and sell where they choose, the same as the rest of the community.” The words “a royalty of say 5 per cent on each digger’s earnings,” were added, and the motion as amended put and carried. The gum-digger delegates then retired. The Chairman stated that Mr A. Porter, Chairman of the Harbour Board, had placed a steam launch at the disposal of the conference for a trip round the harbour. It was resolved to thank Mr Porter for his kindness.