FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16433, 12 July 1915, Page 3

FEDERATION OF LABOUR

ANNUAL CONGRESS. (Peb United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, July 9. The Labour Congress to-day decided that Ministers should officially recognise all registered trade unions which have members working in their departments; that any worker employed in the Government ill any department should receive not less than the award rate of pay governing the class of work he was engaged to perlorm; that the system of including trade, unions and friendly society old age pensions in the Income Tax returns when aprjlving for a State old age pension is a tax "on thrift; that trade unions and friendly societies be given the same status as the National Provident Fund with regard to superannuation; that the conferencc co-operate with the international trade unions and peace societies with the object of terrjlinuting the war; that the Government be urged'to impose a graduated tax on incomes and land for the relief of distress caused by the war, • all incomes below £250 to be exempt; that the conference urge the repeal of the law allowing the occupier of a shop to keep same open on the statutory half-holiday m any week in which a . special holiday falls; that payment at overtime rates be made for time in cxccss of 52 hours spent in attendance jsn horses. 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 the liabilities of unionists for arrears of contributions after having participated in a strike. It was decided to recommend the United Federation of Labour to amend its constitution sp that any union may (in one manner or another) be able to affiliate with the United Federation of Labour, having regard to the union's own constitution. It was decided to arrange for a deputation from the congress to wait on 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 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 loan or any part of it.