LABOUR MATTERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16717, 20 December 1918, Page 7

LABOUR MATTERS.

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION

COiVFS-RjiiSuJi. (Per Press Association). • ■' WELLINGTON, Dec. 19. The Employers J Federation ..passed the following resolutions.:—

"That a clause be inserted in the. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act providing that any secretary or officer of a union- who takes action that leads to a strike of members or the union, without the union Laving authorised such action, shall be liable to a penalty, and shall bo disqualified

from holding office iu suck union for a stipulated period." "That the meeting is opposed to the principle of allowing apprentices time off during working hours to attend technical schools at the expense of the employer, hut strongly approves of ttio principle of encouraging technical study hy granting increased payment to any apprentice qualifying at prescribed examinations."

The meeting also decided to communicate with the Minister of Defence suggesting , that Territorial camps b6 discontinued this year in consequence of the disorganisation of trade owing to the epidemic and other causes. ~ DRIVERS' DEMAINDS. EMPLOYERS' OFFER. REJECTED. The Drivers' Unions throughout New Zealand: have declined the employers' offer to increase wages providing" the existing conditions remain unaltered. The dispute has since been referred to tlie Transport Workers' Advisory Board,., which, has decided to support the drivers in their claim for a reduction of hours, also a weeklv halfholiday, and an increase in wapes and overtime rates. The demands ar« considered fair and reasonable bv the Board, which does not see anv insurmountable difficulty. Conciliatory methods of reaching a- settlement arc urged, and to. this end a. further conference with the employers has -been requested; ,