TIMBER WORKERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143762, 10 April 1912, Page 3

TIMBER WORKERS.

PROPOSED DOMINION AWARD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 9. E. Phelan (Auckland) presided at today’s conference of the Federated Sa'wmillers and Timber Workers. The Annual report stated that the executive thought the matter of organisation and making of a Dominion award should be further considered by the conference, which should also consider the question of federation. The question of obtaining a Dominion award caused a lengthy discussion at the timber workers’ conference today. Mr. F, J. Lyons, who commenced the discussion, said that some of the unions were to blame in this matter in not letting the other unions know what they were doing. It was time the conference concentrated its attention oil this question. The "Wellington Union was going for now conditions, and definitions of yardmen, etc., were imperatively needed. All the holidays nUonea were not wanted, especially in the bush mills. The Wellington muplovers would give nothing, as they know the other unions were at sixes and sevens, lie moved that tho contcrence adopt tho principle of a Dominion award. Mr. T. O’Byrno agreed that tho unions should work more in concert, hut there were places where men were quite unorganised. The trouble was that there were so many men outside the union. When these men were enrolled it would bo easier to secure a Dominion award. The chairman (Mr. E. Phelan) said a legal and advisory committee, with representatives from each centre, should be set up to simplify matters before approaching tho court. It was tho duty of each union to finance that committee. The stronger unions should come to tho assistance of the weaker ones by appointing a Dominion organiser. , , , It was decided to set up an advisory committee of three to advise the unions to take cases before the Arbitration Court if necessary, and to act as assessors on the Conciliation Council. Messrs. P. J. Lyons, E. Phelan and J. O’Byrne wore elected members of the Advisory Committee.