LABOUR WORLD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 10 April 1912, Page 5

LABOUR WORLD.

THE LITHGOW STRIKE AGOT ! DECLAREDOFF. AFTER LASTING NINE MONTHS". ;PIIESB ASSIXi.-r.HON.— COPYRIGHT.) (Received 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day., A conference of representatives of the unions and Chamber of. Manufacturers ao-vppd to declare the LJt.igow strike oti to-day, »fter lasting nine months. S \WM I LLEHff AND TIMBER " WORKERS' COStIfERENCi!..WELLINGTON, April 9. The question of obtaining a »orcuuion award c»**ed a lengthy diseuswwtti \at the Timber Workers' conference today Mr F. J. Lyew* s»''d some of t"« unions were to Want* in this matter, vr* not letting other uniori* know what they were doing. It was time* the conference concentrated its attention ■ Ct» this qucsf'on. The Wellington union was fcoing tor new conditions, and definitions <* £ ,y a "|: men, etv. f were imperatively ne.ede.ci. Ail the holidays allowed were not, wanted, especially in the bush mills. The Wellington employe** would give nothmgV as thev knew the other unions were at sixes and sevens. He moved that the conference adopt the principle of a Do mi'iiicM award. Air T O'Brien agreed that the unions should work more in concert, but iheres were places wWe the men were qrorte unorganised. The trouble was that the** were' so many men outside the -union. .When these men were enrolled if-•would be easier to secure a Dominion awara. The chairman (Air E. Phelan) _saTd s a legal aid advisory committee, with representatives from each centre, showlctl be set up to simplify matters before approaching the Court. It was the duty • of each union to finance the committee. The stronger unions should come to the assistance of- the weaker ones by appointing a Dominion organiser. _ It was decided to set up an advisory committee of three to advise the unions to take closes ibefore |the Arbitration Court if necessary, and to act as assessors on the Conciliation Council. Messrs F. J. Lyons, E. Phelan, and J. O'Byrne were elected members 0? the, advisory committee. This Day. The Sawmill and Timber • Workers.* Conference to-day decided to instruct the / incoming executive to take .. immediate* I steps to register the Federation, under the Conciliation and 'Arbitrations Act. It was also decided to urge the oovernment to carry out the work of afforestation. TRADES COUNCILS' CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, This Day. At the conference of the Trades Councils' delegates to-day, the following motion was considered : —"Thai every endeavour be made to fix the amalgamation of the Trades and Labour Council vand the Federation of Labour ; thai no hairsplitting be allowed to interfere m forming such an amalgamation; and that'a. ballot of members of the Trades and, Labour Council be taken on the> subject. There was a long discussion, an- amended motion being eventually carried urging delegates, if the unity proposal were adopted, to do their best to bring-about the amalgamation. LABOUR UNITY CONFERENCE. PARLIAAIENTARY CANDIDATES* PLEDGES. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Labour Unity Conference,has. concluded its deliberations. The unity proposals and the constitution of the : proposed United Labour Party were amended and drawn up for presentation v to separate conferences of the Labour Party and to Trades Councils. When these two organisations have dealt with the scheme in its amended form> the constitution will be submitted'to the .Unity Conference for final endorsement. ; '^ In connection with the pledge .in-the past Bigned by the Parliamentary candidates, it is understood that in future, ther© will be no such pledge:—merely the affirmation signed by all members of tho party when they first join the organisation. This affirmation of principle? embodied in the constitution will guide Parliamentary representatives in their action just as it would a private member of the party. ! LIABILITY OF UNION OFFICIALS. POINT STILL UNSETTLED, AUCKLAND, This DayJudgment was given by Air Kettle.. S.AL, this morning in the case brought against the Waterside Workers' Union by the Labour Department, claiming £2OO for a breach of the Arbitration Act for inciting a strike of wharf labourers on November 21, when a number of men refused to handle superphosphate "> r less than Is 6d an hour. The question was raised, as affecting a case against" tho Labourers-' Union to follow, as to whether the actions of officials' botfnd a union in the case of a strike, it, being contended that the meeting of the union at which the strike was resolved upon was not a legal meeting, as it had nob been convened in accordance with the rules. The Alagistrate had no hesitation in deciding that there was a strike; but he agreed that there was a difficulty in settling another point raised, and had decided to remove the question to the Arbitration Court direct, together with the question of costs. DRIVERS'IN CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, .This Day. At the Drivers' Federation Conference it was - decided to take steps to obtain a Dominion award, a preliminary conference to be sought with the employers with that object. It was also resolved that before disputes are filed throughout New Zealand, the Federation request tho Government to, appoint a man with in ; dustrial and commercial knowledge with a view to having disputes Settled on tho basis of equity and justice, and not on legal technicalities. SHEARERS AND WOOLSHED EMPLOYEES. WELLINGTON, This Day. • At the third annual conference of tho New Zealand Shearers' and Woolshed Employees' Association to-day, representin n about 450 workers, it was decided to take a ballot next shearing season as to whether the Union- should cancel registration under the Arbitration Act. ARBITRATION COURT AWARDS. WELLINGTON, This Day. s The award of the Arbitration Court in the woollen mill dispute is largely based on the Canterbury award of the 'samA trade. The week's works consists, of 48 hours, preference is granted to unionists, and the present rate for piecework Js to continue. The Court's award in tho plumbers' (iiAnnto declined to increase the miniVMl'Ti wqrrp to Is 6d Jill llOUl", . H-S tllft . ITnirm had not, advanced anything to •iustifv any such alteration.