TRADE UNIONISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 7

TRADE UNIONISM

THE ■ ANNUAL CONGRESS. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDOiN, September 3. Five hundred and twenty-one delegates, representing 1,700,000 trade unionists, are attending the fortieth annual Trades Union Congress at Bath. .Thirty-six Labour members of the House of Commons are present-. Tho Parliamentary Committee's report recommends members to support the following measures:—Miners' legal eight hours; a reduction in the hours of all trades; pensions; legislation dealing with the unemployed problem; compulsory State insurant*; land nationalisation ; an amendment to the property laws, "and the legal restriction of systematic overtime.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. LONDON, September 3. Mr A. H. Gill, Labour'M.P. for Bolton, presiding at the Trades Union Congress, advanced old-age pensions as the first planlc in their programme. The pension, he said, must he universal, non-contributory, arid non-discriminating, He declared that it was the Chancellor of the Exchequer's duty to find the money from sources which could be legitimately tapped. EMPLOYMENT ON SUNDAYS, LONDON, September. 4. (Received Sept. 4, at 10.4 p.m.) The congress, by 685,000 votes to 649,000, rejected a resolution discouraging employment on Sundays. Several 6peaker6 declared that the reso- . lution embraced the spirit of Sabbatarianism, and said it would be sufficient to try to restrict the hours of labour by securing for the workers one day's rest in seYcn t though, not necessarily Sunday. OLD-AGE PENSIONS," LONDON, September 4, (Received Sept. 4, at 10.4 p.m.) Mr Gill, a Labour member of tho House of Commons, advocated a pension of 5s per week to all people over 60 years of age. He suggested that Mr Asquith should tax unearned increments, landlords' mining royalties, and increase the duties on the great estates. MR JOHN BURNS ATTACKED. PARLIAMENTARY UNITY. LONDON,' September 4. (Received Sept. 4, at 10.4 p.m.) In connection with the report on tho unemployed several delegates violently attacked Mr John Burns (President of the Local Government Board), describing him as a lost soul,

An animated discussion took place on tho relations between the Labour party and the trade unions, and it was decided to continue to try to attain complete parliamentary unity.

Tho congress is composed of representatives of trade unions, either working at their trade or paid union officials. Unions may send one delegate for every 2000 members or fraction thereof. Voting on important questions is on the principle of one voto for. every 1000 members represented. A Parliamentary Committee of 12, belonging to different unions, 16 elected to look after the 'interests of tho working classes in parliamentary matters and elsewhere, and' a paid secretary is also appointed annually. The last conference was hold at Liverpool in September, 1906, and lasted 1 six days. On that occasion thcro were 165 organisations with 1;484,101 members, represented by 489 delegates. Tho membership represented nearly 80 per oent. of tho total memlKPship of all trade unions. The number, of organisations represented was 11 more than in 1905, and the total membership was greater by 1458. Among the principal industrial subjects on which tho congress passed resolutions in 1906 were: Restriction of the hours of labour to eight per day for miners and for workpeople penerally; amendment of the law in relation to trade unions and industrial disputes; amendment of the Mines Regulation Act, the Factory and Workshops Acts, the Shop Clubs Act, tho Workmen's Compensation Acts, and the Truck Acts; certificates of competency for persons, in charge of steam engines^and boilers; the wages and general conditions of lnbour of Government employees; general old-nvo pensions; improved housing accommodation for working people; uso of trade union labels on manufactured .goods; nationalisation of mine l !, railways, and canals; abolition of sv;tematio Overtime: comoulsory State insurance; representation of trade unions at Board of Trade' and coroners' inquiries: nrohibition (jf importation, of alien.labour in case of strikes;: cheap travelling :fares for workpeople: prevention of evictions of workPeople by employers in case of strikes; and daneer of • employment of foreigners in British mines: A - resolution in favour of compulsory' arbitration in trade disputes was rejected by it. majorit.v of-.197.000 votes: tho majority in ISOt was 486,000, and in 1905 92,000. '