FURNITURE WORKERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 59, 16 April 1914, Page 8

FURNITURE WORKERS.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. The conference of the Federated Furniture Trade Unions was resumed this morning, when proceedings were conducted in. open conference for the first time. The _ following delegates were present:—Auckland: Messrs Aggers, Lewis, and Home (Gisborne); Wellington: Messrs Kennedy, Moriarty, Ferguson (Wanganui); Christchurch: Messrs Sullivan (in the chair), Barlow, and Chumley (Timaru)j Dunedin: Messrs Stewart, Silverstone, and Huston; Southland: Messrs M'Gregor, Gillies, and Price. The committee set up yesterday to consider a basis of settlement in the dispute between the executive and the Auckland Union brought down its report, which was unanimously adopted. All the matters in dispute were satisfactorily settled. A DOMINION AWARD. The first remit on the order paper, from Dunedin, was that the conference be instructed to draft conditions to, apply to the whole DominiQn. Mr A. Silverstone moved that a committee be set up to report on the question. There were several matters of importance which should go to a committee, as otherwise the conference would last for a very long time. When a competent committee was set up its recommendations were almost always adopted in toto. Mr Moriarty seconded the motion, and suggested that. one,, delegate from each union be elected to the committee. The motion was carried, and the following were elected to the committee: Messrs Silverstone (Dunedin), Lewis (Auckland), Barlow (Christchurch), Moriarty (Wellington), and M'Gregor (Southland). AMENDMENT! TO EULES.

The Auckland Union made proposals for several amendments to the constitution, or in the alternative that a committee be 'set up to' re-draft the rules. It was decided to refer the matter- to a committee consisting of Messrs Kennedy (.Wellington), Euston (Dunedin), Aggers (Auckland), Chumley (Christchurch), and Gillies (Southland). Various other remits from different unions dealing with matters concerning the rules were also submitted to, the committee. One of these was a Wellington proposal that a uniform set of rules bo adopted for all affiliated unions. SICK AND FUNERAL FUND. A remit from Wellington that congress be asked to take into consideration- the advisability of establishing a sick benefit and funeral fund was moved by Mr Moriarty. The mover said that if members of the unions could go, from one part of the Dominion' to another and find the same state of affairs everywhere with regard to such a fund, it. would go a great deal towards keeping the federation in existence. They had had the matter before them for soxae time in Wellington, but they could hardly expect a man to contribute to a fund in one centre, and then lose/all he had paid in by leaving that, centre. There was a real need for a national fund. He thought a subscription of 2d a week would be ample, and that would enable sick pay of £1 per week to be disbursed, and the fund would "get ahead of itself.'' In. Wellington they paid 10/- a week. The. payment to the fund would be in addition to the ordinary levy of 6d a week, and contribution to the fund would be [Optional. Mr Euston (Dunedin) said that his Union would have nothing to do with any scheme which would increase the weekly levy of 6d. Mr' Moriarty explained that there would be no increase. They were prohibited by statute from making the weekly subscription to the union more than 6d. The 2d a week would be a purely voluntary subscription on the part of each individual member of the federation, and there would be no. effort to compel unions to, come in as a whole. Mr Barlow (Christchurch) supported a voluntary scheme. The terms outlined by Mr Moriarty were much more liberal than those of any benefit society he had ever heard of.

Mr M'Gregor (Southland) said that his union had hitherto charged a weekly levy of only 3d per week. He thought that if they were to y make a levy of 6d, the union could forward 2d for the sick fund, and retain the 4d for working expenses. The scheme was quite new; to him, but he thought that the members of his union, would take it up heartily. The chairman asked if the Wellington proposal did not rather underestimate the contribution necessary. Mr Moriarty did not think this was the case. If the contribution were too small, Wellington must be a terribly wealthy place. The chairman: We don't subscribe to that opinion. (Laughter.) Mr Moriarty said that in Wellington they had 400 members, whose contributions of 2d per week came to £2OO per year roughly. The sick benefit of 10/-' per week cost only £SO a year, and if they were to pay £1 per week, it would cost £IOO a year. There was no reason that he could see why the national fund should not pay as well. Mr Silverstone (Dunedin) supported a national scheme. He said that he had always strenuously opposed a local scheme. Such benefit funds had been the bug-bear of the labour movement in Great Britain, as workers had joined unions merely on account of the monetary benefits they would obtain. They did not seem to care for the industrial benefits which the union obtained. The danger should be avoided in New Zealand, and he therefore was strongly of opinion that the scheme should be a national one.

In answer to questions, Mr Moriarty said that it was no bar to membership of the fund that a man was insured or belonged to a lodge. In Wellington they paid 10/- a week for the first thirteen weeks, and 5/- a week for the next thirteen. In Wellington they had been in a strange position, as every member who had qualified for the 5/- per week had died. A committee consisting of Messrs Ferguson and Moriarty (Wellington), Price (Southland), Home (Gisborne), Stewart (Dunedin), was set up to go fully into the position. The conference adjourned until 9.30 a.m. to-morrow.