LABOUR CONGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9092, 10 July 1915, Page 4

LABOUR CONGRESS

THIRD DAY’S BUSINESS. The open Labour Congress called by the United Federation of Labour was continued yesterday. Tho official report shows that tho following remits were carried: “That in the opinion of this conference the Ministers of the Government Departments should officially recognise all registered- trade unions wMnii have members working in their departments; and we recommend- united effort being made by the unions to place their case for recognition before the Prime Minister." “That any. worker employed hy the Government in any department shall receive not less than the award rate of pay governing the class of work he was engaged to perform." “That the present system of including trades unions and friendly society old age pensions in the income returns when applying for State old age pensions, is a tax on thrift, and that ■ trades unions and friendly societies bo given the same status as the National Provident Fund with regard to superannuation." “That this conference co-operate with all international trade unions and peace societies with the object of negotiating in the direction of terminating the present disastrous war.” “That the Government be urged to impose a graduated tax upon incomes and land for the relief of distress caused by the war; all incomes below .£2,30 per vear to .be exempt from taxation.” “That 1 the conference urge (1) the amendment of section 50 of the Shops Act. so as to provide for payment at overtime rates for time occupied in attendance to horses iu excess of the 52hours week prescribed by the said Act; (2) the repeal of paragraph (a) of section 19 of the, Shops and Offices Act, which allows an occupier of a shop to keep his shop open on the statutory half-holi-day iu any week in which a special holiday falls." ' The conference endorsed the appeal of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union to the trade unions of New Zealand for financial assistance to contest the decision of Mr H- W. Bishop, S.M., in reference to tho liabilities of unionists for arrears of contributions after having participated in a- strike. It was decided to recommend the. United Federation of Labour so to amend its constitution that any union may (in one manner or another) be able to affiliate with the C.F.L.. having regard to the union’s own constitution. It was decided to arrange for a deputation from congress to wait upon Parliament with a view to having the life sentence passed upon Alice Parkinson remitted. The question of the loan from the Australian Workers’ Union was opened and

dealt with in open, congress. It was agreed to recommend the United Federation of Labour to appeal to unions with a view of securing funds to meet the A.W.U. loan or any part of same. It was decided to leave to the United Federation of Labour representatives the placing of matters 'emanating from the congress before the Prime Minister. This closed the open congress. To-day a conference of representatives of unions affiliated to- the United- Federation of Labour will commence.