LABOUR CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8376, 2 October 1890, Page 5

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

MEETING IN WELLINGTON. [BY TKLKOKAPH.—PRKSS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wednesday. Tiik delegates appointed by the various labour organisations to attend the conferenco in accordance with the resolution oi Parliament, assembled at Parliamentary Buildings, at three o'clock tins afternoon. Those present were : J. A. Millar, Federated Seamen's Union, Stewards' and Cooks' Union, Auckland Trades a'ld Labour Council ; Captain Highuian a.id Mr. Cornish, Marine Otticert-' Association ; Fisher, Brown, and Seymour, Wharf Labourers , Union ; Lomaa and Ancell, New Zealand Amalgamated Miners' Association ; F. Millar and Mills, Now Zealand Typographical Society ; Elvines and Winter, Railway Servants' Society ; Graham, Johnson, Jones, Meyer, Hutchison, Mudge, and Avery, Wellington Trades Council ; Parker and Sandford, Canterbury Trades Council; Dobson and Williams, New Zealand Federated Carters' Union ; Tees, Dunedin Bootmakers' Union ; Browett, Wellington Bootmakers' Union. The Hon. G. McLean was expected to be present on behalf of the Union Company, but tho Wanaka did not arrive in time. Under the circumstances, no chairman was appointed, and the proceedings were of a formal character, lasting only a few minutes. Mr. Waldegrave, of the Colonial Secretary's Department, attended as otiioial secretary. Ho stated that so far as he knew, Mr. McLean would be the only employers' representative prosent. Mr. Millar presumed tho Premier having invited them would be in attendance, and explain for what purpose the Conference was convened. The opinion was also expressed that there was no use in the railway delegates being present if the Commissioners wore not going to be represented, and Mr. Waldegrave was asked to communicate with them. Mr. Millar said they had yet to determine whether the Press fthonlr) boullowod to bo proaeilC, Mr. Waldegrave said a shorthand reporter would be furnished by the Government if the Conference desired it. Finally, it was determined, in the absence of Mr. McLean, to adjourn rill ten a.m. tomorrow. It may bo mentioned that tho Railway Commissioners will decline to be present. They hold that they are not traders, and are not employers, but must preserve a strict neutrality, and insist on their servants also doing so. They are not aware what right the latter have to take part in the Conference at all, as they should have nothing t-o do with the dispute. The Commissioners consider that if they were represented that fact alone would at once commit them to taking sides on the matters at issue, which they say they do not propose to do. The Premier this evening stated it was not the intention of himself or any member of the Government to attend the labour conference to explain the reason of its being conrencd. He explains that the conference was merely convened by the Government by direction of the House of Representatives, and there the Government's responsibility ends.