THE WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 8

THE WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

REMITS CONSIDERED. 'liy Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, August 18. The New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation resumed its conference to-day, Mr. J. Heed presiding. Discussion on the first remit submitted by Auckland, dealing with tho question of statutory unconditional preference to unionists, was resumed. The speakers, iwith only one exception, emphatically voiced their opinions in favour of the proposal, which was carried. - The president read the following telegram from the Seamens' Union: "Yoiir ■twin brother, Seameus' Union, extends fraternal greetings to tho conference. ,May beneficial results bo accomplished.' —Wm.' Belcher."' Remit No. 2: "That no legal counsel shall he allowed to appear in any case for either side in the Arbitration Court, Conciliation Commissioners' Court, or Magistrate's Court," was submitted. After the luncheon adjournment, tho president welcomed Mr. G. 11. Whiting, president of the Trades and Labour Council, and Mr. Young, secretary of the same organisation. ' The former said that tho day was not_ far. distant when workers throughout New Zealand would become a solid federation, and would then be in a far hotter position to fight the Employers' Federation.

: Mr. Young remarked that he was pleased tosee that the Grcymouth Union had substituted the programme of the new Labour party as No. 3 remit, in place of tho original remit. This, h© said, augured well for the solidity of Labour. The discussion of No. 2 remit was then resumed, and tho motion was thrown-out, an amendment by Mr. Jackson (Greymouth), to rhe clTeet that compensation cases 1)3 not included in the proposal, hud that Section GO of the Arbitration Act,1908, be amended to. allow of 'any union bringing a dispute before the Court independently of the Inspector of Awards, being carried.' Remit No. S, "that all harbour boards; local councils, anil all local government bodies shall-be elected by parliamentary franchise," was carried unanimously. In moving remit No. 1, "That power of attaching memoranda or other remarks not consistent with an award be taken out of Arbitration Courts or commissioners', hands," Mr. Webb took strong exception to a' judge attaching memoranda to awards. Such procedure was outsido the jurisdiction of au Arbitration Court judge. - The remit was unanimously adopted. Remit No. 5 Was as follows: "That the Education Act bo so altered as - to give free compulsory-education from the primary schools through and including the universities, merit to bo the only qualification."- ' The remit was adopted. Remit No. (i, "That tho Government be urged to open coal and firewood depots in all the leading.centres and towns in the Dominion." was unanimously adopted. -. '

The conference went into committee.to consider a • letter from the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Labour pnrtj\ Mr. Laracy, secretary of the Shearers' Union, waited on the confeience, and submitted a proposal to merge the present Labour papers in a publication to be entitled "New Zealand ■Worker," which it was intended would be an up-to-date Labour paper. Sir. J. A. .M'Cullough, who was also present during the afternoon, briefly urged upon ihe conference the necessity of: moving in the direction of establishing a paper calculated to serve the best interests of the Labour party. It was resolved that the question be further discussed when, ths remit dealing with tho matter came beforo the ranferenco.