TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12036, 7 May 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

TRAINS AND LABOUR CONI'ERFA'CE. Tlio tciilli annual met 1 ting of represcutntivcs of the Trades and Labour Councils of Now /,oalaud was lipid in Dunedin in the second week in April, The sittings commenced on the 9th, and were continued for four day.-. A large uinotinl of business was dealt with, tlie resolutions carried being in the form of recommendations to the Iwecutivo Committee. Delegates were present from Auckland, Wellington, Westland, Canterbury, •Southland, and Olngn. In connection with the Conciliation and Arbitration Act it was resolved that the Government should appoint inspectors to prosecute in the case of breaches; that section 63 should be amended to give power to tin trades and labour councils of the colony to elect members of the Arbitration Court, instead of leaving the power to nominate such members in the hands of the Government, as at present: that section -21 ho amended to give power to the trades and labour councils to register: and that a reference to the hoard or court might be agreed on by a resolution passed at a meeting of the union by a majority of the members present. The Factories Act was also considered, and several amendments wen* agreed to. Among others it was rcEolvcd that the Government be again asked to provide that the hours of labour for females and boys he not more than eight hours on five days and four hours on Saturdays; that a half-holiday be allowed to adult malo workers; that a dining room bo provided in each factory for the workers; and that clause. 27 be amended by "adding the words; "The owner shall be liable (in ce.se of accident) whether notice has been given or not," and that in clause 23 the matter of compensation, instead of being in the hands of the inspector of machinery, Khould he in the hands of the inspector of factories. A largo number of motions on general matters were also agreed to, the following being the most important: — " That ail apprentices be indentured for—in tho case of females not less than three years, and males not less than five years." " That we fhould urge upon the Government the urgent necessity of opening up and working one or more Stato coal mine." " The abolition of the duties on those necessaries of life, that cannot be produced in tho colony, and an increase of the land and income tax." "That the Government he again urged to establish Government tailoring and boot manufacturing workshops in one of the chief centres of the colony, to manufacture hoots and clothing for their own service; that tile Government bo urged to establish Government saddlery and harness workshops, to manufacture saddlery and harness for the Government service; and that tho Government be urged to undertake the manufacture of ammunition, ordnance, arms, and munitions of war." " That the Old-age Pensions Act be amended in thai, in cases where persons are performing underground work for a period of 10 years, tho age limit to be reduced to GO years; that the system of considering board and residence as income be abolished, nnd that the amount of pension bo increased to 10s per week; and that the conference reaffirm the principle of old-age pensions being made universal.' "Thai tho Government be requested to inIrodnco ft minimum wr.go bill, with a minimum of 10.1 per day to all male workers." " Tho curtailment by the State of the iudividml acquisition of wealth, either by an increased probate duty or by a wealth tax, or by direct logislat-'on.' "That the Government u3 urged to introduce legislation providing for frco nnd secular education from the primary school to the university; that education bo compulsory tin to the age of M years, mipils passing the Sixth Standard before that ago to aiteml the High School." "That the Government he urged to nationalise the oil and mineral wealth of the colony." "That the Government be urged to establish a Slate bank, with the solo right of note issue." "That tlit* Government be again urged to inaugurate the scheme of national fire insurance." " That this conference are of opinion that it is undesirable for New Zealand to enter the Commonwealth of Australia." " That the municipal councils of the colony be urged to press forward the worl; of municipilinin; such iiuhlic conveniences as trams, gas and electric lighting, ballr-, lecture halls, and places of amusement." " That tho conference be urged to request tho various trades and labour councils of the colony to endeavour to organise the agricultural employees throughout the country districts of tho colony." " Tint the best thanks of this conference be. tendered to tho Government for having passed during last session the Government Valuation of Land Acts Amendment act, the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Act, tho Inspection of Machinery Act, the Old-age Tensions Act Aiuendeincnt Act, the Public Contracts Act, the penny postage, reduction of duties on the necessaries of life, tho Municipal Corporations Act, the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, and Irst, but by no means least, the. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act."