“TURNED DOIN"

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8737, 20 May 1914, Page 4

“TURNED DOIN"

PREMIER AND SHEARERS MU MASSEY “COULD NOIVMEET” CONFERENCE DEPUTATION. Tho Shearers’ Conference finished its business yesterday, after sessions extending over a week. Tho official reports issued last night cover tho deliberations of Monday and Tuesday, as under:—

When the conference met on Monday morning, the question of organisers’ expenses and salaries was considered, and it was resolved that tho present system of paying a weekly- salary, plus costs of locomotion, stamps, and telegrams, he adhered to. The question of amalgamating with the Australian Workers’ Union was considered, and it was resolved' to refer the matter to the A.W.U. for further advice. Tho affairs of tho Gisborne union were discussed, and that union was congratulated upon its flourishing condition. The Gisborne accounts, as brought down by Mr Morgan, were passed for payment.

Various routine business was transacted, and it was arranged that the conference wait upon tho Minister for Labour in regard to accommodation and in regard to amending the Arbitration Act to allow of the registration of Dominion unions.

Tho question of daggy sheep was discussed, and it was unanimously resolved that members be., notified that in the opinion of the conference Jagging was not shearing, and that if sheep are not dagged before coming on tho board shearers should refuse to dag them.

Tho conference adjourned until tho following day. Yesterday morning various routine matters were dealt with.. It was resolved unanimously that the Shearers’ Association take steps to form an amalgamation with all the rural workers’ unions in New Zealand, and that a ballot of the members bo taken this season to bring about this amalgamation. “AN ABSOLUTE REFUSAL.’' After 'the luncheon adjournment., Mr Laracy (general secretary) reported that about 11 a.m. he had rung up Mr Massey’s private secretary, and asked what time it would bo convenient for the shearers’ deputation to wait upon Mr Massey that afternoon, as had been arranged.' The reply was that Mr Massey could not meet the shearers’ deputation. Mr Laracy said he had reminded the private secretary that a definite promise to meet the deputation that afternoon had been given, and that the southern delegates had waited in 'Wellington for the purpose, and the shearers certainly expected the Minister to fulfil hie promise to meet them that afternoon. Ultimately the private secretary had said that he would ring up tho conference later in tho day. He (Mr Laracy) had rung up the private secretary about 11 o’clock, and had this conversation, and so far no telephone message had been received. He would like the conference to give him instructions. “Apparently,” continued Mr Laracy, “Mr Massey is not too anxious to meet the shearers. If he is afraid to meet us, we don’t intend to chase him. He has had every opportunity of receiving our deputation, and 1 am in favour of treating him now with the contempt that his attitude deserves. If ho cannot meet us with courtesy, we certainly have no call to humble ourselves before him, and I take it that we are not going to do it, A most definite arrangement was made yesterday that wo would be given a hearing this afternoon on various matters connected with the welfare of our organisation. Wo were told that Mr Massey could not meet ns this morning, hut would do so in the afternoon. Now we are practically up against an absolute refusal. I propose, that if wo do not receive the promised ring on the telephone this afternoon we take no further steps in the matter.” Mr Bell then .moved and Mr Johnston seconded: “That unless the shearers get a telephone ring from Mr Massey this afternoon, no further steps be taken in tho way of waiting upon him.” Mr Adair and Mr Keogh thought tho. shearers should go and demand to bo beard and express their opinions of “this backsliding.” - .Mr Laracy said they would get nothing in any case from Mr Massey. Mr Grayndler: “1-don’t see what we want to go to Mr Massey for. If this report goes out to the workers of this country that the Hon. Mr Massey, as Minister for Labour, had refused to hear the shearers’ deputation after promising to do so, that will he far more beneficial to onr association and to the workers generally than any of Mr Massey’s promises. They are only words, anyhow.” ■ , , Mr Townsend .expressed the nope that when Mr Massey was out and the Liberals were in, tho Liberals would pay more attention to shearers accommodation in the future than they had in the past. . . ' The motion was passed unanimously. No further communication was received from the Minister for Labour, and. therefore, no deputation waited upon him. GENERAL BUSINESS. Various general business matters were then dealt with. t , It was resolved that tho Shearers Association should be represented at tho July Congress by Mr Laracy. Various officers were elected, and the president and scci etary were instructed' to sign tho shearers’ agreement forthwith. ... In regard to tho sedition cases it was unanimously resolved: “That this conferonoe deprecates the treatment given to Messrs Holland, Young and others in connection with the recent strike, expresses its sympathy with the wives and families of these men, and asks for the immediate release of the condemned men; and that this conference also puts on record its condemnation of the obsolete and absurd sedition laws by means of which those men have been imprisoned, and urges tho immediate repeal of these laws.” The secretary reported _ that the membershiu of the association was now 4093. and said that he confidently expected it to be 6000 by next year. A vote of condolence was passed to the wife and relatives of the late Mr V. ' Spencer in their bereavement. Votes of thanks were carried by acclamation to tho president, secretary and the rejporter. The president, after returning thanks, announced that he would not be standing for election as president su.-n.tr jext year. He congratulated the delegates on having held the most successful conference in the history of the association.