TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 4

TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

At a special meeting of the Trades and Labour Council of Otago on Thursday evening it was decided to bring the follow* ing recommendation before the annual Trades and Labour Conference: — " That the conference support and endorse tha progressive provisions in tho present Land Bill — especially the limitation of area, the stoppage of the furthersale of Crown Lands, the creation o£ national endowments for hospital and charitable aid and future payment of oldage pensions, and the* substitution of~a» 66 years' lease instead of the lease in perpetuity,—and strongly urge upon all land reformers the necessity for active support and assistance towards placing the above principles on the Statute Book." " That the conference be asked to re-, commend the abolition of the late-closing night now existent in chops, in order to bring grocers, drapers, and other shop assistants under the same hours of labour as prevails in trades ; and that the Govern* ment be urged to introduce legislation to provide for a universal compulsory Saturday half-holiday." " That the Government bo urged toJ introduce legislation to restrict the importation of labour under contract, whether! male or female." "That the Government bo urged to introduce legislation to provide — (&)j Parliamentary franchise to apply to the elections of all local bodies ; (b) every elector to have the right to vote on all questions subjected to a poll." "That the Government be urged to establish clothing and boot factories, flour; and ■woollen mills, bakeries, ironworks,and iron shipbuilding yards." " Amendment to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act — (a) That the Government be strongly urged to introduce a bill into Parliament to so amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act as to provitia for the statutory preference of employment to unionists, (b) That the Conciliation and Arbitration Act be amended to bring under its provisions all departments of the Stato throughout the colony, (c) That section 54 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Acfc be amended by adding after 'prescribed fee ' ' thirty days after the filing of tha board's recommendation it shall come into force, and shall be enforceable the earne as an award of the court, until such tirfl'o aa the court shall have made an award in the case, prov'dod either party appeals against the board's recommendation.' (d> That section 21 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act be amended by striking out the words 'either party,' and inserting ' both parties.' " "Amendment to Electoral Act, making it illegal for any candidate for parliamentary honours to nr-ake donations within three months of an election." It was also decided to ask the conference to reaffirm the following resolutions:— (1> " That the Government be urged to adopti a self-reliant policy, and to cease borrowing, except for the redemption of loanev and to issue legal tender State notes fofl the purpose of completing the unfinished Main Trunk and other important railway lines now in course of construction and | for other permanent and reproductive work*, with a view to providing a permanent currency as a medium of exchange} for the internal trade of thin colony." (2f 71 That the Government be urged to ia« crease the land and income taxes, th« abolition of exemption*, and corresponding decrease of the duties on the necessaries of life that cannot be produced in tbJ» colony." (3) "That the Government ba urged to rationalise the marine coastal antf intercolonial service."