TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19844, 17 July 1926, Page 12

TIMBER INDUSTRY.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT TARIFF ON IMPORTATIONS (Pek United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 16. A deputation representing the Timber Workers’ Federation of New Zealand met the. Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour yesterday and asked that the Government should favourably consider several matters affecting the industry. It was asked that there should be an amendment to the Compensation Act to make provisions for payment in cases where there was partial loss of limb; also that the wages of employees should bo the firs t charge on a bankrupt estate. , ' - , It was slated that employers had been asked to provide fans to minimise the dust danger’ from machines, but had been refused. It was suggested that the Government should consider making the provisions of fans compulsory. The Secretary (Mr Turley) asked that a representative of the men should be allowed to accompany a Labour Department official inspecting labour and time books. He also urged closer inspection of accommodation, and protested against the immigration policy, which he said was causing unemployment. The Hon. G. J. Anderson said he would have the question of accommodation and machinery looked into. A 40-hour week was requested. Mr Coates replied that Parliament was rather busy this session. Mr Anderson: As far as lam concerned you won’t have any support from me for a 40-hour week. It was staled that, as a result of the largo importations of timber, numbers of workers had been thrown out of employment. Employers were also feeling the pinch. Mr Coates said the matter was at present receiving the attention of the Minister of Customs and the Minister in Charge of Industries and Commerce. Mr O’Byrne stated that there was a fear in some minds that if a tariff were placed on imported timber millers would raise their prices, but the sawmillcrs had given the federation an assurance, and also the Government a written assurance, that if a tariff were placed on imported timber they would not raise prices. Ho suggested that, if necessary, the Government could establish a Stale Umber yard, buying direct from the millers, and distribute at cost price. Mr Short!. (Main Trunk) stressed the fact that foreign imports were affecting small towns dependent on the industry. Tile depression was so groat that no doubt a number of shopkeepers would have to go to the Bankruptcy Court. Mr Coates said lie could find no fault with the statement of the deputation at all. ire thought New Zealand should endeavour to make itself self-independent as far as possible. An important factor was the supply of timber to people wanting to build homes. In regard to the suggestion of the. State entering the business, ho remarked that the State had not been very successful at cutting down costs. Generally it was the other way. No doubt there had been some cases of dumping, and when it camo to dumping, a little country could not stand up against a big one. THE FORTY-HOUR WEEK. NO .SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.! WELLINGTON, Julv 16. Provision for a 40-honr week was requested bv a deputation from the New Zealand ’Timber Workers’s Federation which waited on the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. O. Coates) and the Minister of JNiboiir (the Hon. G. J. Anderson). “Wc feel thta there ought to bo some reduction in hours, " said Mr F. Turley secretary of the federation. “We think provision should be made for a five-day week, this session if possible.” Mr Coates, with a smile, interposed: “I arn sorry, but we are rather busy this session.” Mr Anderson was more definite. ‘‘As far as I am concerned,” said the Minister, “you wont have any support from mo for a 4U-hour week.”