LABOUR CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20623, 23 July 1930, Page 17

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

COMPENSATION FOR WORKERS

[BY TET-EOT!API/. —OWN" COHRESPOXULNT.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

Delegates from all industrial unions throughout New Zealand arc being invited to meet in conference at Wellington on July 30, to discuss the Government's unemployment relief proposals at present before the House of Representatives and to consider the commendations of the commission which recently held an inquiry into the Workers' Compensation Act. The conference is being convened by the New Zealand Alliance of Labour and is expected to be attended by about 100 delegates.

Mr. A. Cook, president of the NewZealand Alliance of Labour, said to-day that probably thero would bo considerable opposition at the conference to the proposal that the 30s levy as propositi by the bill should be paid by the intermittent worker. Opposition had been expressed to the proposal that the lov.er-paid worker, who was sometimes out of work, should be asked to pay as much as the man with a big income.

In regard to sustenance there would certainly bo considerable opposition in the Labour movement to the difference oi payment to n. single worker as against a married worker. A large section of tho Labour movement would not agreo to that, said Mr. Cooke. Opponents to the measure would probably favour & flat rate for married and single men. Jr. regard to workers' compensation objection would probably bo taken to the proposal to reduce the present compensation of single men from £4 a week to £3. As far as hospital treatment was concerned the recommendations provided that a doctor should be approved by the employers. There would certainly bo opposition to that. At present the worker had the right to go to his own doctor. Tho commission had made no recommen elation in respect of workers injured while travelling to or returning from work, and in relation to that omission something would be said.