THE TIMBER WORKERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 8

THE TIMBER WORKERS.

CONTROL OF AUCKLAND MARKET.

[by TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Tuesday.

The New Zealand Sawmill Workers' Union Conference was concluded to-day.

Mr. J. O'Byrne submitted a motion urging on the Government the necessity for establishing State sawmills and timber yards in the various centres of the Dominion. Such a course would, ho contended, be of immense benefit to the community, as prices would be properly regulated. The people engaged in the industry should be protected against the invasion 6f Oregon timber by the duty on that particular class ol timber being increased. j Mr. Phelan said the timber market in Auckland was controlled by rings, and the small man had no chance of selling his output unless he traded with these combinations. State' operations would decrease the cost. V.

i Mi*. O'Byrne said it was monstrous the way in which timber had been given away by the Government through • the land boards. He instanced a case in Southland where a. person, had paid £12 for the right to cut timber," and a sawmill had taken 12 months to cut it out.

The motion was carried.

On the motion of Mr. O'Byrne, it was resolved, " That the Government be urged to obtain all railway sleepers in the Dominion." It was resolved that the Government be urged to provide for country or bush sawmills an Act whereby millers would be compelled to provide proper and sufficient accommodation for the workers.

The Conference also decided to urge on the Government that all sawmills be equipped with a stretcher, medicine chests, splints, and bandages, and a .printed card of instructions how to proceed in dealing with the more common and serious accidents! . * ;.'r' ,v. Y,v; f . V

, The following resolutions were also carried — 'a-

That. all clocks in the Dominion be kept at fnean time."

' That- the* Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration " Act -be amended to provide that the Council of Conciliation be empowered to make an agreement into an award ; without- appealing -to - the Arbitration Ofrort.

That the election of municipal and all other local bodies 6hall be on the Parliamentary franchise, all elections to local bodies to be taken on the same day. That the State be urged to extent their cool depots. That the Government be urged to pass legislation preventing the sale of coupons bv bakers (in particular) and other tradesmen, as the purchasers thereof had *no guarantee thai, the goods will be forthcoming on presentation of the coupon. That a Stat© Labour. Bureau be established. "

That the principle of nationalisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange be affirmed. That section 14 of the Inspection of Machinery Act be amended *so that in particular caces it should not apply to men who possessed certificates prior to the passing of the Act. That the Government be urged to open up land for settlement in and around the various sawmilling districts of the Dominion, preference to be given to sawmill workers. • The Conference endorsed a resolution similar to that passed at the Trades and Labour Councils' Conference, drawing the attention of the Minister for Justice to certain remarks made by Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M.. at Auckland, in a case brought before him by the Cooks and Waiters' Union against the licensee of an hotel there. A -deputation will .wait upon the Prime Minister to place the deliberations of the Conference before him.