FURNITURE TRADE WORKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3035, 15 May 1912, Page 3

FURNITURE TRADE WORKERS.

DEPUTATION TO MR LAURENSON. WELLINGTON, May 7. Representatives of tha New Zealand Federated Furniture Trade Workers' Association waited on the Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. Laurenson) to-nightj submitting resolutions passed at the Furniture Workers' Conference last March. Mr D. Moriarty (oecretary) said a difficulty had arisen over apprentices through -the • present and previous awards clashing. A recent ruling of the Arbitration Court meant that there was no provision to give apprentices the increased wages to which the unions claimed they were entitled. They wanted an amendment to make section 69 of the amending act clear. The Workers' Compensation Act should be amended to compel employers to insure their workmen. The union was not frightened of the big employer, but of the email mau with no pliant or stock as a guarantee of payment. Legislation was sought to prevent insurance companies compromising wit)h the victims of accidents and to define when a worker was deemed to be dismissed. The deputation desired that the employment of agents before conciliation councils should be prohibited, unless with the consent of all parties, and it also asked that in cases of breaches prosecuted by a union where the department had declined to take action the unions should be allowed the full penalties. The Minister said ho was gratified to note the conciliatory tone adopted by tho federation in relation to tho employers. He could not understand the decision of tho Arbitration Court in the case concerning apprentices referred to by Mr Mori-arty. He believed that the latter's reading of section 69 was correct. Tho request for the compulsory insurance of workers was reasonable, and he would see what could be done.. He sympathised with the request for the abolition of agents, holding that the main purpose of the conciliation councils was that there should be nobody present to foment mischief. He would look into the request as to the bringing of oases, but it should b? noted that for every case brought by a union 26 were- brought by the department, which seemed to show that the department was not neglecting its duty.