TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 17

TRADES AND LABOUR.

THE COAL MINERS' DISPUTE. London. April 11. The owners of the collieries in South Wales have arranged to meet the miners' delegates to-day and discuss tbe men's demands. In their last manifesto the colliery proprietors insist upon adherence to a eliding scale. April 13. Thß coaferenco between the owners of collieries in South Wales md the miners proved abortive, owing to the miners requiring that their delegates ba allowed to exercise plenary powers. April 17. In consequence of the strike of miners, the ironworks in Scotland are in want of coal supplies. TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE Wellington, April 14. The Labour Conference have decided in favour of the parliamentary franchise for municipal matters. After discussing the Old Age Pension Bill the conference decided in favour of 65 yeare of age, with 20 years' resideuce ; no person of notoriously drunken habits to ba eligible for a pension. The conference thought thad the pension should be £18"*pfr annum, irrespective of income. The conference passed resolutions that canvassing and touting at elections be made illegal ; that the Government should bring in a minimum wage bill (the rate favoured by speakers was 10s a daj) ; that Government tailoring workshops be established in Wellington ; that the'Governmenfe be requested to take steps to regulate the kauri gum industry, licenses to ba issued to Brititk subjects only ; that the Government be requested to give preference in employment to unionists ; that the conference protests against continual appointments to the Legislative Council as it i? opposed to all measures of reform ; that Mr Beu Tillefcfc be appointed fco represent New Zealand at the next Trades Conference in Britain. April 15. Ifc was resolved that the Eight -Hours Bill should *t>e added to the list of Government unfulfilled premises, as was also fche intention to abolish the life tenure of Legislative Councillors. The referendum was also classified as an unfulfilled Ministerial promise. The conference also carried a resolution strongly recommending an amendment of the Factories Act with regard to holidays. It was resolved that a bill for the proper regulation of private benefit societies be added to the list of urgent necessities. A motion by Mr Taylor (Christchurch) with regard to appointments to the civil service was lost. There was a discussion on the present position of labour members in the House and the advisability of forming an independent labour party. Mr Vaney moved that the time had arrived when the labour party in Parliament should assert it 3 independence in all things concerning labour, and not let consideration of party be a. means of preventing their just claims being conceded. He and other members contrasted the number of measures for the good of workers passed by Mr Reeves when Labour Minister aud the little thai; had been dona sicce he went Home. Exception was also taken to the interference of the Ministry in tbe selection of candidate?, and the fact of members who showed any independence beiDg forced into the Left Wing. On tb.9 other hand, the -president and one or two speakers deprecated anything which would cau=e a split in the Liberal party, and urged that after all what measures they bad got were due to that side of the House. Mr Reeves could not have carried his measures without the support of the Government. Mr Vaney, in replying, suggested that the salaries of Ministers should bs increased to make it impossible for them to hold positions on syndicates. The motion was carried.