TIMBER TRADES CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2522, 16 July 1902, Page 65

TIMBER TRADES CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, July 14. The Timber Conference concluded its sittings on Saturday- Other recommendations it made were that the Government be asked to legislate in the direction of making it compulsory for workmen to have at least one day's rest in every seven; that it is desirable that La-bour be directly represented in the Legislature; that the, Government should give preference of employment to unionists in all State- works: that the Factories Act should be amended so as to bring country and city timber workers on an equaJ footing as regards payment of overtime. A committee \va v set up to facilitate the federation of the timber yards and sawmill unions of the colony. The delegates attending the Sawmill Workmen's Conference laid their resolutions before the Acting-Premier this evening. Sir J. G. Ward promised that the subjects dealt with would receive consideration.' He mentioned that the Government had .sent to London a number of samples of New Zealand timber in order that they might be thoroughly tested with a view to having it decided whether it was possible to start the paper-making industry m this colony. He pointed out that one daily newspaper in Australia required as muck paper in 12 monchs as could be made from the timber dealt with by any sawmill in this colony. For the four weeks ending June 24 last there- were employed under the Department of Roads and Bridges 943 labourers, of these 56 were- working in the Otago district and 28 in Southland. On co-operative works under the_ Public Works Department for the same period 1102 wore employed. Ol these 25 artisans and 132 labourers were on tho Otago Central, 1 artisan and 20 labourers on the Catlins-Seaward Bush, 1 artisan and 22 labourers at the Orepuki-Waiau, and 13 labourers at the He-riot extension.