LETTERPRESS PRINTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10509, 10 February 1920, Page 6

LETTERPRESS PRINTERS

ANNUAL MEETING OF UNION. THE ARBITRATION ACT. The annual meeting of the Wellington Letterpress Printers, Lithographers, and Paper-cutters' Industrial ! Union of Workers was held on Saturday. Tho attendance was large. THE YEAR-WE VIEWED. The twenty-seventh half-yearly report covering th,e period ended on November 30th, 1919, was formally adopted. The report ahatod that during the period undpr review several members had been unemployed. In some cages they had loft the trade, but none had applied for unemployment benefit. There were now 134 members on the roll. Six clearances had been issued, fifteen new members paid entrance fees, and ten new members were admitted by clearance. Tho balance was made up of members who had returned to tho trade after various periods on active service. At its meeting in August the board had instructed the secretary to writo affirming tho decision of the union to join tho Related Printing Trades Federation.

"Tho Arbitration Court continues to lag behind in so far as increasing wages to meet the ever-increasing cost of living," tho report continued, "and this Is a matter miombers must »evu ously consider. Official advico of the increased (4«) war bonus has not been received at time of writing. Possibly tho conference, which is to bo hold early in the month, will give a. lead to the unions on this matter. In framing new conditions for submission to employers or the Arbitration Court, our members will have to make provision for tho paper-cutters, Wiho aro members of our union, and whose inclusion was approved 'by tho registrar having included them in our title. A proposal has been made to include stereotypers, etc., in the union." In conclusion, it was stated that tho oity nierribership stands at 108, and others as follow: Palmerston North, 12; Napier, 7; New Plymouth and Wanganni, 3 each; and Taihape, 1. On the motion of Mr W. Wigston, it was decided that the union should affiliate with the Labour Representation Committee. THE ARBITRATION ACT.

After considerable dis;ussion, the union passed tho following resolution: "That this meeting instructs its delegates to voto in favour of . seceding from under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act when tho question is oonsidored at the conference of tho (Related Printing Trades Federation."

It was decided to support tho action of tho Bookbinders' Union in its endeavour to secure better sanitation in printing offices. It was further agreed that it was advisaiblo to widen tho membership to includo stcrcotypers and other workers in the printing trade.