TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 27

TRADES AND LABOUR.

CAP*. ± OWN, April 4.

The Chinamen at R-andfontein are now drilling three f-eet daily, and the trouble is ended.

SYDNEY, Apiil 7.

The Daily Telegraph, commenting on t-e New Zealand unionists' objections to some recent decisions in the Arbitration Court, says : " Arbitration in New Zealand has yet to meet a test similar to that under which it broke down here — namely, a large bodiy of men getting an adverse award. From the threats made by the Otago Trades and Labour Council, it looks highly probable that the result of such a trial will be the same as in New South Wales."

ADELAIDE, April 5

At the annual Inter-Mate Conference of the Employers' Federation the chairman, Mr E. E. Smith, of Victoria, attacked the. Federal Government for ignoring employers' interests. If Mr Reid intended to work with the Labour party, why not say so? He proceeded warmly to condemn Socialism and class legislation, and declared that the employers were anxious for conciliation, but would not accept compulsory arbitration. He supported the importation of coloured labour for tropical Australia.

At the Employers' Federation Conference tlie Victorian delegates, dealing with the operations of the Wages Boaid of that State, declared that what with only the old being permitted to work and the young being forbidden to work, Australia would shortly become a country of day labourers, and they would be compelled to import skilled mechanics in spite of Immigration Restriction Acts.

April 6.

The annual report read at the Employers' Federation Conference adversely criticised Federal legislation as affecting employers, and declared that while the Arbitration Bill was bad the Trade Marks BiJl will be more iniquitous in its operation than tlte Arbitration and Navigation Acts put together.

April 7.

The Employers' Federation Conference has adopted resolutions urging on all employers and others in the Commonwealth the necessity of maintaining freedom of contract ; the necessity of thoroughly organising owing to the socialistic trend of legislation in the State and Federal Pailiaments ; that the Immigration Act is a bar to the progress of the Commonwealth, hurtful to the Imperial sentiment, and not justified ; that owing to natural conditions it is impossible to cultivate th,e tropical landis of Northern Australia solely by Europeans ; sympathising with the sugargrowers in Queensland, who are threatened with a disastrous crisis by the exclusion of Polynesians, and asks that the Federal Government adopt measures to avert the crisis.

April 8. The Employers' Conference decided to cable to London through Reuter their decisions not to register under the Aibitration Act. and the desirableness of maintaining freedom of contract and organising to combat the socialistic tiend of legislation.

THE TROUBLE AT THE KAIAPOI

WOOLLEN FACTORY. CHRISTCHURCH. April 6. Tho Cluiatchurch branch of the Political Labour League, at a meeting to-night, 'further considered the question of the

importation of contract labour It ■was stated that the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, before importing labour, ascertained from the secretary ot the local Tailorossos' Union that no surplus labour was available, and advertisements published m and Dunedin brought forth no response from unemployed taii-oresses. Ten days after the arrival of non-unionist girls from Sydney the company discharged 43 coat-makers and two waistcoat-makers. Thirteen of the coat-makers were reinstated, but the balance were still out of employment. Reorganisation of the factory was alleged to have been carried out to defeat the terms of tho award of the court. The opinion was expressed by several speakers that it was not the intention of tne league to injure the company, but only to see that justice was done to employees. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy with the TpJloressos' -Union, and to offer to set up a committee to go into the matter vith a pommittec from the union and from the Trades and Labour Council