TIMBER WORKERS’ FEDERATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 32

TIMBER WORKERS’ FEDERATION

REMITS AT CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, July 6. A conference of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Federation opened to-day. The principal business for discussion was drawing up demands for a dominion award. Mr T. O’Ryrne (retiring president) pointed out that the minimum rate now paid in the trade was less than the minimum rates paid in other less dangerous and less arduous industries. Mr C. F. Moyer, of Canterbury, was elected president for the ensuing year, and Mr J. Alswciler secretary. It was decided to defer consideration of the matter of attending the conference of unions convened by the United Federation of Labour, which opens to-morrow, until later. Remits were carried as follow :—That the. Government be asked to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act so that halfpay he allowed to workers irrespective of the time a worker is incapacitated by accident ; that the Government be asked to increase the duty on imported sashes, moulding, and manufactured timber to 50 per cent., and in the cases of doors to fix a duty of 5s on Ijin doors and 7s 6d on Ijjin doors; that the Government be urged more strictly to enforce the regulations in connection with “ The Accommodation Act, 1913.” It was decided to recommend the incoming executive to consider ways and means for the purpose of thoroughly organising the timber workers of the dominion. A remit that this conference consider the question of drawing up a dominion award and submit it to all affiliated unions for their consideration was discussed, and finally it was decided to refer the matter to the executive, and ask it to draw up a dominion award and submit it to all affiliated unions as early as possible. July 7. At the conference of New Zea’and Timber Workers’ Federation to-day the following remits were adopted: “That delegates bo sent to the Australian Timber Workers’ Federation Conference in Melbourne at Easter, 1915, and that the secretary write asking for exchange clearance cards. “That the Government be urged to carry on a scheme of reolforestation on an enlarged basis. “That the decisions of previous conferences which have not been given effect to be again reconfirmed, and that a deputation wait on the Government requesting that they be given cff.ect to. ‘"That the conference strongly protest against the action of the Government in assisting immigrants into the dominion whilst so many of our own workers are not fully employed. “That in all future applications for awards unions be advised to claim a minimum wage of 10s per day. “That on account of the depression in the timber industry, the number of unemployed, and the continued increase into the dominion of foreign timber - , manufactured or otherwise, the federation take steps to assist sawmill owners and manufacturers in urging on the Government the advisability of curtailing such large importations, and' that the duty bo incr*cased on all timbers under the size of 12in x 12in or the equivalent. “That this conference, representing 10,000 timber workers, protest against the cruel sentence inflicted upon Holland in connection with the strike, and demand bis release. “That the Government be urged to experiment in the direction of finding suitable timber to take the place of white pine for butter boxes. Tawhai was suggested as a substitute, as it ;vas almost odourless. “That the Government be urged to considerably reduce freights on “shorts,” and that it be pointed out that millions of feet of that class of timber are now destroyed every year.

“That where the Arbitration Court make an award granting an increase of wages it shall not be lawful for the employer to raise the cost of commodities.

“That the executive be fixed for the ensuing year at Christchurch, and that - the Easter conference be held there.”

July 8. A deputation from the Timber Workers’ Conference waited on the Prime Minister to-day for the purpose of laying before him the requests formulated by the conference. The deputation was introduced by Mr J. G Coates, M.P., for Kaipara. Mr E. Phelan, of Auckland, spoke of the importation of foreign timbers, and said that while there was no objection to this jf it was brought in in bulk, it was an injury to the timber workers of the dominion to bring it in in small sizes. He suggested that an import duty be imposed on all sizes smaller than 12 lay 12, or its equivalent. The appointment of two boards of exports (one for each island) was considered desirable for the purpose of cooperating with the Arbitration Court, with a view of preventing the prices of commodities being unduly raised when a rise in wages took place. The necessity for finding suitable timber to take the place of kahikatea for butter boxes was also mention'd, as well as the freights on “shorts.”

_ Other matters mentioned by the deputation were the question of an amendment of the Workers Compensation Act, providing for the payment of half wages during the whole p'j'iod of incapacity, and accommodation at sawmills. The Prime Minister said that with regard to the importation of bulk timber, the Government had a duty to the industries of the country. If the Government 'could assist those industries it would be very glad to do so, if it could be dono without injuring the bulk of the population. The point raised about the increase in the price of commodities following upon awards of the Arbitration Court was an exceedingly difficult one. Workers had in some cases gone to the court and got a 5 per cent, increase in wages, and there had been a 15 per cent, increase. in the price charged to the public. If the Government could solve this difficulty it would be very glad to do it. It had been a burning cjucstion, and he had had his attention drawn to it over and over again. It had been suggested that tawa might he tried as a substitute for white pine in the manufacture of butter boxes. The Forestry Department was planting a species of poplar of very rapid growth, which was supposed to be suitable, and to bo absolutely odorless. He believed itbe Railway Department would presently cArry “shorts”

at the very lowest rates. He was not sure whether Parliament would have time to deal with workers’ compensation this session. Ho was surprised to hear that there had been ajiy trouble about the Act providing for the accommodation of sawmill and other workers. In point of fact he had had complaints that the Labour Department was being too severe, causing hardship to sawraillers.