TRADES COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4882, 6 February 1903, Page 5

TRADES COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held last night. Mr W. H. IVestbrooke, president, occupied the chair. The president, in referring to tho deputation which waited on the Premier with reference to au interpretation by the Court of au overtime clause iij the painters’ dispute, said the result amounted directly to nothing. Tho Premier had failed to see tho real point the deputation had endeavoured to urge upon him. The point they tried to impress upon him was that the Judge of the Arbitration pourt had amended the award without giving the union legal notice so that the union could show cause why it should not be amended. Mr Collins, in speaking of the president of tho Arbitration Court, said he would be sorry to see any person ether than a Supremo Court Judge appointed to the position. Mr Cole disagreed with €he last speaker, and considered a suitable president for tho Arbitration Court could ho selected from the ranks of the commercial class. The report of the deputation by the president was then received. The chairman moved that the Council should communicate with the Government with a view to getting a labour representative placed on tho Harbour Board. Mr Cole moved an amendment that the Council should request the Government to accept a / nomineo of the Trades Council to a seat on the Harbour Board. The amendment was carried. It was decided to hold a special meeting of tho Council next Thursday, in order to elect three members to represent it at the annual conference at Greymouth at Easter.