Trades and Labour Conference

Southland Times, Issue 19799, 19 April 1906, Page 4

Trades and Labour Conference

Per United Press Association. . CHHISTCHI.'KCII. April IS. The .CoiU'erence to-day resolved to change the name of the uttieial Trades organ from ihe Otago Liheval to the Beacon. An amendment in favour of New Zealand .Labour Leader, was lost. A remit from Nelson to urge the Covernment to introduce legislation to provide for a universal compulsory half-holiday was carried. The Conference reutlirmed the principle of land nationalisation, and urged the Government to nationalise the mineral wealth of the colonj • On the motiioa of Mr Paul (Otago) the following motion was carried. •• That the Oovcrnmont be urged to make an increase in the laud and income taxes, with a reduction of the exemption from income tax now allowed : also, a progressive income and absentee tax. and abolition of the duties on all necessaries of life Oral cannot lie produced in the colonv. The Conference debated at considerable length the administration of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and adopted motions asking tke Government to so amend the Act as to afford protection to workers who may be engaged in forming a union,; to provide tor unconditional preference of employment to unionists, and that all decisions of the Court should be given within three months of the tiling of a case. A motion was also adopted that when a Conciliation Board s recommendation is accepted by all parties to a dispute such recomincndaiion should havi- the force of an award of the Court. It was decided to urge the Government to establish State clothing and boot factories, flour and woollen mills, bakeries, iron woiks ami ship building yards.