FURNITURE WORKERS.

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

FURNITURE WORKERS.

DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYEES. [BY TELEGRAM.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ' ' - Wellington - , Tuesday. The Furniture Trade Workers' Conference continued its deliberations to-day. Practically the whole of the morning sitting' was* taken up in considering the draft constitution submitted by Wellington. This was finally adopted pro forma with various amendments and referred to the New Zealand unions for consideration on the understanding that it must be either adopted or rejected in toto. /' Mr. D. Moriarty (Wellington) moved, and it was agreed, "That the Conference affirms the principle of 44 hours' works a week for the furniture workers of the Dominion." Mr. D. , Moriarty (Wellington) moved, " That the. Minister for Labour be urged to bring down his promised legislation dealing with the'dismissal of workers and defining when a worker is deemed to be dismissed." He held no brief for the Hon. J. A. Millar, but the Minister had always given them a straight deal and did not care two pins what anybody thought of him. It was, very * necessary to define when a nonunionist was deemed to be dismissed. The motion was seconded by Mr. H. Banfield (Auckland) and'carried unanimously. Mi-. D. G. Sullivan (Christchurch) moved, "That the Minister for Labour be asked to define more precisely the term worker in the Arbitration Act' by adding. the definition the words 'irrespective of whether such worker supplies the material necessary for his labour or otherwise.'" It was pointed out by delegates that cases had occurred where individuals had contracted to do -certain work at prices which were actually below the award rates of pay ; in fact, sweating rates had been tjjken. The motion was carried. , It was decided that all partnership agreements be in writing and registered, and the secretory was instructed to make arrangements for a deputation to wait upon the Minister 'for Labour in order that the recommendations of the Conference might be placed before the Government.' ' The Conference will resume to-morrow.