TIMBER-WORKERS' UNION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14340, 9 July 1914, Page 3

TIMBER - WORKERS' UNION.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. DUTY ON* FOREIGN ‘'SHORTS” ASKED FOIL (Per United Press Association.l 'WELLINGTON. July 8. A deputation from the Federated Tim-ber-workers Union waited nnon Mr Massey to-day to lay before him, among other matters, their objection to the importation of foreign Umber in small sizes, which me local workers of a foiisidcrablenfrciikount of employment. The deputation asScd for a duty to he placed on all timlnlvs under Die size of 12 by 12. The deputation asserted that- it had been found that when the 'wages were raised by the Court 5 per cent, the price of tire commodity affected often wont up to 10 per cent or 15 per cent . It suggested an amendment to the Act so that employers could not raise tho prices unless they proved to the Court their claim to do so. * In replying, Air Massey said that theip was a. certain amount of force in their request for increased duty on the .‘■mall sizes of timber, and he would give it his attention. The Government would 'gladly help in the stopping of employers in raising prices. The Forestry Department was experimenting with a variety of poplar as a substitute for white pine for butter boxes, and it was tho intention of the Government to establish a State sawmill at Waipoua forest. The difficulty as regards the carriage of ‘shorts" was that the railways must pay their way. it depended on the way Parliament got. through its work, whether he could deal with the Workers’ Compensation , Act. As to the suggestion to put an export duty on butter, lie pointed out tho serious- danger of tampering with exports. They should encourage their exports in every possible way. No doubt butter had been too dear in New Zealand. He was utterly opposed to any combination for the nutting up of prices, and he was prepared to introduce legislation to prevent it. As to the union's liberty to - spend funds as it deemed lit, ho pointed out tha-t at present the law applied it to the registration of the union, and only for the purposes of the Act. It seemed to him' that the trades union wen not intended to he a political association, and was hardly fair to use the fluids of (he minority for the purposes to which it was not approved.