LABOUR CONFERENCES

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 779, 31 March 1910, Page 2

LABOUR CONFERENCES

_ +L —__■ ■ SHEARERS' UNION. The conference of delegates from the various branches of the Shearers' Union was continued at the Trades Hall yesterday, Mr. A. J. King, the. president of the conference, in the chair. The proceedings of tho conference were not open to the press. A Press Committee, was appointed to prepare reports of each day's business for transmission to tho press. In his opening address, delivered at tho inaugural session on Tuesday, the president feelingly referred to tho loss sustained to tho union by the disappearance of its secretary (Mr; Darcy). Referring to the progress of the union, he remarked that the membership had doubled since August last, and the affairs of the union, as.disclosed by tho books (which had been left in perfect order by. Mr. Darcy), were in a satisfactory condition. The balance-sheet was read and adopted. Mr. Larracy was appointed acting-sec-' retary. ■ . ■ The order paper for the conference is a large one, and »-ill engage the attention of delegates for the greater part of the week. Among the topics set down for discussion are the followin:— That a Labour paper be started by the federation, 2s. Gd. to be taken from ths funds of the federation per member, provided that the paper is Tun solely .and under the guidance of the Federated Shearers' Executive. - That the amended Shearers' Accommodation Bill, introduced two sessions ago by the Canterbury Union, be introduced in its original form in Parliament/. That all the unions in the federation be asked to run a candidate at next election, candidates to be bona fide members of the union. That the cooks, shed hands., and other employees be included in the award,'.and that steps be taken to procure evidence. That the question of the condition of the worker under the burden of house rent and dear foodstuffs be discussed:— (a) Can his position be remedied by legislation? (b) Cheap flour and dear bread anomalies, cheap (mutton) she<>s ,sad dear chop anomalies, (c) Can means be devised whereby profits will bo limited- 1 by Act of Parliament so as to enable the •worker to get-the free breakfast table, or the common necessaries of life irithin his reach?: (d) That tho Customs duties be revised as a means towards easing the burden of the worker, (e) That the Land Act be. made applicable to towns and cities as well as.farms. , (f) That the political franchise be adopted in all municipal, hospital board, and other public elections as a, legal right of the worker, (g) That physical as well as mental- instruction should be made compulsory in all schools. , . ' . • ■ ' : That the price of shearing throughout New Zealand be-£l/per 100 for Sock sheep, and .£2 per 100 for rams and ram stags, and found. . . That shed hands receive 30s. per,week, irrespective of age, except wool-pressers, who shall receive not less than .£2" per week. . ■ " ' ■ That . unionists' be given preference when applying, for work. ' That 'sheaTers' cooks receive not less than 50s. per week up to ten.men, over that number ss. per man per week. That niusterers and shepherds be admitted to the union. That tho inspection of accommodation be made by independent inspectors other than police. \ ''■.'■ That one learner be employed to every eight shearers. -,-.'■. .- - That no shearers .or shed hands engage through, labour agencies where they have to pay. . -V ...-..-... That branches .be recommended: to establish labour bureaux. PAjNTERS AND DECORATORS. The conference of delegates from the various branches of the Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators entered upon its second day yesterday. The proceedings are* not open to the press, put a summary of the. disenssions arrived at will be published when the conference concludes. ;■'■.'■'■''■■ ' ■ ' ■