TIMBER WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 655, 4 November 1909, Page 11

TIMBER WORKERS.

■ SUGGESTIONS TO'THE GOVERNMENT. HON J A. MILLAR IN REPLY. A number of resolutions adopted at tho Tiinbei Workers , Conference- weie brought under tho notice of the Hon. J. A Millai (Minister for Libour) jesterday. Tho principal requests uiged on tho Government were ah follow >-Stttutory, preference to unionists; hoars of lrork H, afforestation, State sawmills and timber yards; land-nationalise 1 tion; restriction of public trusts; use of New Zealand sleepers only; duty on certain imported timbers; equipment of sawmills with stretcher, etc., full pay for injured workers during first four weeks, power to Council ot Conciliation to make nn agreement into an award without reference to thn Court of Arbitration; abolition of tradespeople's coupon system; municipal and othei elections on Parliamentary franchise; Stuto labour bureaux; extension of S'nto «ui depots; proper acccnmodation for workers. Th« Minister, in reoly, poinbd out that the piogramme submitted was a \ery formidable one. Ho would tell them candidly that they would never, in his opinion, get statutory *i preference to unionists without conditions, * wlucb, paradoxical as it might seem, would render it of no use whatever. The qnestion of a ii hours week was a policy one. Only a certain amount of money could be sot aside for afforestation work each year. Land nationalisation was another policy question Ironbark sloepors were an absolute necessity for some work. The Government would tako all the sleepeis they could got in New Zealand. . Tho question of import duty on timber would bo dealt with in duo course. It was necessary for surgical appliances for first aid to bo kept at sawmills If an opportunity offered ho would make provision to tins effect in a Bill ton session. As to the accommodation provided for bush-workers, full inquiry would be made. The Government was doing its best to extend the work of the labour bureaux and to make thou as useful as possible.