LABOR PARLIAMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9117, 10 April 1901, Page 4

LABOR PARLIAMENT.

(T .■ Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The Executive in their report to the Trades and Labor Conference, protest against the action of the Government in allowing the Eight Hours Bill to be dropped last session, and hope the labor organisations of the colony Will use every effort to ensure the passing of the Master and Apprentices Bill next seission, thus giving greater facilities for arbitration in settlement of disputes. The excessive prices demanded for coal during the past year had caused the Executive to approach the Premier, with the result that be promised to endeavor to establish a State coal mine and put coal on the market at reasonable prices. The report further states that Mr Homsby, member for Wairarapa, has undertaken to draft a Bill for the prevention of employment of females in unhealthy and injurious occupations. On the subject of federation, the Executive are of opinion that to join the Commonwealth would retard the development of the industries of New Zealand, and would tend to centralisation of the wealth and industries .in the larger centres of population in the Commonwealth. A resolution was carried urging the. Government to appoint inspectors under the Arbitration Act, to prosecute for breaches, that employers of labor shall keep a . wage book containing a. direct record of all wages paid, that such book be open for inspection by any person authorised by the local union, or any inspector appointed under the Act. Motions were carried to give Trades and Labor Councils the right to elect a member of the Arbitration Cotort; to amend the Factories Act to provide eight hours for five days and four on Saturday for females and boys, and a half-holiday for adult male workers of a registered factory ; owners to provide dining-rooms ; ill workers in factories to be under the Act. It was resolved to petition for the passing of an Eight Hours BUI; that a Master and Apprentices Bill be passed;

deeds to be registered with the inspector of factories ; that Government should open up one or more State coal mines ; that duties on the necesaries of life that cannot be produced in the colony be abolished, and the Land and Income Tax increased; that Government establish tailoring, boot, saddlery, and harness manufacturing workshops; that Government undertake the manufacture of ammunition, ordnance, arms, and' munitions of war; that second-hand dealers be licensed; that there be a reduction of weight of corn sacks; -that the Minister of Railways give preference to the employment of Unionists. . (Special to Herald.) DUNEDIN, this day. On the subject of Federation the Executive of the Trades and Labor Council iu. their annual report observe: "The federation of New Zealand with Australia has received the attention of the Executive, who requested the Government to appoint a bona fide worker on the Federation Royal Commission. Seeing that the workers comprise over 61£ per cent, of the .adult population, the Executive considered that the workers were entitled to at least one representative on matters of such vital impor'ance to the colony. The Premier, in replying to the request, stated that it was desirable that all interests should be represented on the Commission, but considered we applied the term (bona fide worker) in its broader sense. The interpretation the Pre»iier has placed on *botta fide worker 1 in its broader sense can only be observed by glancing over the names of members of the Commission, but the Executive have yet to learn that 'bona fide worker', means a person who is not engaged in manual oc cupation. The- Executive are of opiuion that federation with Australia would retard the developments of the industries of New Zealand, arid would lead to the centralisation of wealth and industries in the largest centres of population in the Commonwealth. The Executive also place on record their regret that the important amendment providing that the Government should be amenable to the Industrial Arbitration and Conciliation Act was rejected by the House of Representatives, the report significantly adding, 'This being more regrettable when the division list was published.' "