TIMBER WORKERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15393, 9 July 1914, Page 8

TIMBER WORKERS.

RAISE POLITICAL ISSUES. OF YAjRIOUS KINDS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 8. A deputation from the Federated Timber Workers' Union waited on Mr lUassey to-day. t-o lay before h:m. amongst other matters, objections to the importation of foreign t:mber in small sizes, which deprived local workworkers of a conrklerabie amount of emp.cyment. They asked that a duty be placed on all timbers under the s'ze 1:2 by 12. The deputation asserted t-'liat it had been found tha; when wages were raiu>c! by the Court 5 per cent, the price of the commodity affected oft.n went up 10 and lo per cent., and they suggested an amendment of the Act so that employers could not raise prices unless it wore proved to the Court, there was some ether ground for doing so. In replying, iMr iMassey =aid there was a certa.n amount of force in the request for an increased duty on small size timbers, and lie would give it his attention. The Government -oyld gladly help in stopping er.i.-ioyers raising prices. The Forestry Department, lie sa- d. was cxperiment'iig with a variety of poplar as a. substitute for white p:r.e for butter boxes. It was intended to establish a State sawmill in "Waipr.ua forest. The cl.ft cultv in regard, to the carriage of ''shorts'' was that tlio railways _imn:t pay tlieir way. It depended on the way Parliament got through i.s wr.rk whether it could deal with the "Workers' Compensation Act. As to the suggestion to put an export duty on butter, he po'nted out the serious danger of tampering with exports. They should encourage exports ill every possible way. No doubt butter was too dear in New Zea.and. and he was utterly opcossd to any combination for nutting up prices, and was prepared to introduce legislation to lireveut it. As to unions' liberty to spend their funds as tlie.y deemed fit. he pointed out that, the present law apolicd to registration of unions c,n!y fcr the -purposes of the Act. H seemed to him that- a trades mr.on was not intended to be a 'ohlical association, and r: was hardly )';-:r to use the funds of a minority for purposes which it d d net approve.