FEDERATION OF LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 7

FEDERATION OF LABOUR CONFERENCE.

THE AGENDA PAPER. The following are the remits from the various centres contained on the agenda paper far tho Trades and Labour Council s Federation of Labour Conference, to- be opened at Christchurch on Saturday, April 15: AUCKLAND. (1) That conference strongly protests against the importation of contract labour. (2) That the present objective of the Trades Council Federation of Labour be rescinded, and the following substituted— namely : "That the objective be: The socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.' 1 (3) That Government be urged to abolish all private registry, offices, and establish Labour Exchanges in connection with the Labour Department. (4) That conference declare in favour of a 40hour week, and all overtime at double rates. (5) That conference disagrees with the actions of Judge Sim, and recommend that he be removed from his position. (6) That any sections of an award agreed to by the Conciliation Council shall not be altered by the Court of Arbitration, and all parties of the trade shall be added to the award at time of making same, whether cited or not. That where employers are filing counter proposals to a union s demands, same shall be in the hands of the union seven days after filing of union's demands. That the Government be urged to bring down a Fair Rent Bill. WELLINGTON. That conference re-affirm the principle of free, secular, and compulsory State education, and resolve upon united effort to defeat the attempts to introduce the Bible in schools, and to obtain State subsidies for denominational eduoation. Plumbers' Registration Bill.—That conference re-affirm the bill, and urge its enactments. Registration of Partnerships.—That Government be asked to bring down legislation to provide for registration of all partnerships. Export Duty on Hides.—That Government be urged to place an export duty of 3d per pound on all hides and skins. Workers' Compensation Act.—That the act be amended o,n the lines suggested by last conference. Loyalty Pledge.—That conference consider the question of ensuring the loyalty of trades councils, trades Unions, and individual delegates and members to decision of the annual conference by adoption of the principle of the pledge for councils, trades unions, and indidivual delegates and members. Amendment to Factories Act.—(a) That conference demand the repeal of section 20 of Factories Act. (b) That employers be compelled to provide letter-racks accessible to employees, to make provision for prompt delivery of all employees' letters. (c) That wages shall be paid immediately employment ceases either by dismissal or expiration of notice, in accordance with the provisions of an award or custom, (d) That section 25 be amended to provide that no employer shall employ boys or girls under 17 years of age more than 30 hours per week. (e) That all boys and girls under the age of 17 years shall receive instruction for not less than 15 hours per week at continuation classes, (f) That all chart orders and -ready-made suits shall be marked as factory-made by having stamped or printed, in a plain and legible manner on hanger-up in coalt the words "factorymade," in letters at least one-eighth of an inch in size. If a shank is used as a hangerup, it shall be sufficient if the said words are legibly stamped on a label affixed inside neck of coat. On inside of vest there shall also be affixed a label bearing the same words, as well as on waistband of lining of trousers, (g) That the act be amended to provide that all overtime shall be paid at double time rates, (h) That the Factories Act be amended so as to empower trades unions to take cases for breaches of act and to give authority to union officials to investigate breaches of act. That conference urge for a 40-hour week. Conciliation and Arbitration Act. —That the Conciliation and Arbitration Act and Trades Union Act be amended so as to remove restrictions imposed on trade unions by virtue of Osborne judgment. Shops and Offices Act. —That the act be amended so as to empower trades unions to take cases for breaches of the act, and to give authority to union officials to investigate reported breaches of act. Stationery.—That the Government be urged to manufacture all stationery required by them at its own printing works. That all school books for the Dominion be printed and bound by the State, and supplied to scholars free of cost. Immigration.—That conference protest strongly against the spending of public money by the Government in introducing labour from outside the country into any industry which is not adequately protected under the industrial laws of our country. Registering Federation of Labour.—That conference urge upon the incoming executive the necessity of registering the Federation of Labour as soon as possible, and that if it is impossible to register under that name, a new name be selected. Appointment of Organiser.—That this council submit to conference a scheme for the appointment of a Dominion organiser to advise unions _ in the preparation of claims and to assist in the conduct of oases before the Conciliation! Council and the Arbitration Court, and. to further the formation of unions and federation of unions. Bushmen's Accommodation Act.—That Government be urged to bring down a Bushmen's Accommodation Act on the lines of tho Shearers Act. CANTERBURY. A bill drafted by the Plumbers' Union, providing for tho registration of plumbers. "That the following be added to section 100 of tho Arbitration Act: —(a) 'That inspectors of factories shall, on application being made by a union concerned in that industry, furnish a list of apprentices working in that industry to the said union within 14 days after the application has been made.' " (b) Strike out sub-section 11 and 12 of section 35 of tho Arbitration Act and insert the following: —"11. No person shall be bound at any inquiry before the council to give evidence with regard to trade secrets. 12. If any person desires to give such evidence as is mentioned in the last preceding sub-section he shall, if the commissioner thinks fit, do so in the presence of the commissioner alone, sitting without the assessors, and in such case tho oomissioner shall not disclose to the assessors oi to any ofch< r person tho particulars of the evidence .> given, but may inform .the assessors whether or not, in his opinio:', any claim or allegation made by the appueunte or respondents in the inquiry is substantiated bv the said evidence. All books relating to finance shall be produced before the

assessors by either party," (c). That section 72 be struck out and the following inserted: " When an industrial dispute has been referred to tho court, the court shall make an award covering wages and conditions of labour in connection with that industry." (d) Section 93, addition clause 2: "Any trade union, industrial union industrial association, or employer cited to appear beforo the Court of Arbitration to dhow cause why they should not bo added as parties to any award shall, if they have any objections to lodge against the' application made to so add them, filo their objections in writing at least five days boforo the date fixed for the hearing oi the application." (e) Section 107, clause 2, strike out the words "for the enforcement of any industrial agreement or award or order of tho court." Add the following 1o paragraph A:—"The Management Committee of an industrial union or association may, if the majority of tho members vote in favour, instruct the secretary to apply in the prescribed form to the court for enforcement of any industrial agreement or award or order of the court.' (f) That the act be amended so as to provide that when an award is made by the court to apply to any industry, such award shall bo binding upon every party engaged in that industry, whether employer or employee, throughout the whole of the industrial district, without individual citation of employers, (g) That clause 61 of tho act be amended to provide that arty claim for back wages shall date from the time the claim is made, and not from tho time it reaches tho court. _ That the Government be urged to provide a State ferry service between the North and South Islands. That the Government be urged to pass legislation compelling all manufacturers to brand their goods manufactured in the Dominion with tho words " Made in New Zealand," with manufacturer's name added.. Amendments to Factory Act.—(l) Section 18, sub-section 1 (a), to bo amended by striking out 48 and inserting 44; (b) to be amended by striking out the words "and three quarters"; (c) to be amended by striking out the word "five" in the first line and inserting "four" and striking out ihe words "three-quarters of an" and inserting the word " one." (2) Section 9 (a), insert 44 instead of 45; (b) strike out the words "and a quarter," also the words " rihree-quartor an" and insert the word "one." That tho Government be requested to bring down and do its best to pass into law a Minimum Wage Bill, such minimum to be Is 3d por hour. That legislation be brought down requiring drivers of motor cars and other vehicles propelled a.nd moved, from place to place by its own motive power _to be duly certificated by the .Inspection of Machinery Department; such driver not to be under 18 years of age. SOUTH CANTERBURY. That the Workers' Compensation . for Accident Act be amended to provide for payment in full from date of accident until the worker injured is able to resume work and that all medical certificates be paid by employers. That .the Minister of Railways be requested to prohibit the use of seed husks, sawdust, or any other matter likely to be injurious to those carrying sacks, and suggest straw as tho most effective matter to place in bottoms of trucks against wet or dirt. OTAGO. . That conference bo recommended to con centrate all its efforts on securing proper representation of labour' in Parliament, and suggest ways and means for appointing as many organisers as arc considered necessary to educate the workers of tho _ Dominion to a sense of their responsibilities That conference be requested to make a further effort to bring about an amalgamation of the two Federations of Labour. That clause 13 of the constitution, dealing with political action, be deleted. SOUTHLAND. Constitution of New Zealand Federation of Labour (clauso 1, name) to be amended by striking out the word "labour" and inserting "workers." That the Government bo urged to bring in immediately a bill giving full political rights to civil'servants. That. the Government be urged to bring in a bill providing for a seven hours' day, with the usual half-holiday. That this conference demand statutory unconditional preference to unionists. That a scheme of reciprocity be formulated whereby tho workers of Australasia shall be drawn closer together. That " The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1908," be amended to provide for country workers an ambulance chest and all appliance-) necessary to render first aid, and to further provide for medical attendance. That " The Workmen and Contractors' Wages Protection Act, 1908," be amended to provide that when an employee is dismissed he shall receive payment for all time lost through having to wait for his wages. That tho Government bring in legislation providing for the compulsory registration of all land agents.