WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 900, 20 August 1910, Page 6

WATERSIDE WORKERS' CONFERENCE.

.VVELLINCTON AND WANCANUI REMITS. (By Telegraph— Press Association.) Christchurch, August 19. The Watersido Workers' s Confcienco was renewed to-day, when. tho discussion on the first. Wellington remit: "That New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation affiliate with the New Zealand Federation of Labour (as registered)," was respnied. A long debato ensued 'as. to the desirability of affiliating with Miners' New Zealand Federation of Labour, or the Now Zealand Federation of' Labour as brought forward' by the Trades Council. This remit was ultimately defeated, and an amnudment that tho federation affiliates, with the Trades Councils New Zealand Federation of Labour was carried by 16 to 6. It was then agreed, on the motion of Mr. Dowdall (Wellington), that a referendum should bo taken among the unions to decide whether members of unions, were in favour of the affiliation, decided upon by the ■ conference, the referendum to bo returnable within three months. A further motion to suspend affiliation until after, the referendum had been taken was rejected. • Remit No. 22: "That the conference be instructed to bring under the notice of the Government ,the : necessity of amending the present Compensation Act, to provide—(l) that all injured waterside workers receive full payment from time of injury; (2) that all ex- , penses of conveyance and surgical aid bo borne by employers; (3) that payment be made eight days after the injury." The remit was defeated, an amendment that the Act be amended to provide that any worker injured should receive full pay. from the date of injury, first payment -to .be made six days after tho accident, and payment thereafter to be weekly, being .carried. Remit No. 23: "That the conference reaffirm the principlo of stated hours engagement fo waterside workers, -8 to 9 a.m., 1 to 2 p.m., and 4.30 to 5 p.m.," was carried unanimously. ■ Remit No. 24: "That the New Zealand Waterside Workers': Conference are of opinion that the socialisation of the means of life is the workers only hope, and that we pledge ourselves to assist in the furtherance of this principlo with • all the means in our power" was.carried. Remit No., 25: "That the conferenco consider'the system of cargo , dumping, and if possible devise ways and means of abolishing." It was contended that tho system tended to save employers a largo amount of expense, which meant a corresponding decrease in the amount earned by wharf hands. The remit was unanimously adopted. Remit 26: ' 'That the conference reaffirm the principle of statutory Saturday half-holiday on all wharves" was carried with one (dissentient. ■ -.'■ Remit N0..27: "That the conference reaffirm- tho principle of compulsory provision and maintenance of casualty wards on all wharves in the Dominion, ■ and the subsidy of a medical, officer," was unanimously adopted. ■ Remit No. 28: "That the Government be. urged to consider, the serious loss, of wages incurred, by tho waterside workers owing to, the slrortage of railway trucks, at tho different ports 'of tho Dominion, particularly Wellington.". The remit was carried. Roriiit No. :29,; suggesting that the conference consider the question of outport work, particularly with reference to Sunday sailing, was adopted. and a motion was carried requesting delegates upon their return to urge , their unions from- accepting put-port work in terms of the , present agreement": . • ■ Remit No. 32: "That the conferenco approves of the ways and means of having available statistical information regarding tho number of men following waterside'employment provided in Mr. M'Laren's proposed Bill" was carried unanimously., '.. ; •■.-.■ ... This disposed of the Wellington remits and the Wangauui 'remits were .then' proceeded with. -.-. Remits Nos; 31 and 35: "That the Federation wait on the ..Railway. Department asking them to discontinue the practice in Wanganui of keeping back three days'pay from'casual workers on , the wharves," and ' "that, the Federation urge upon the Government (where casual labour, is' employed 'in Wanganui) that a ticket shall be issued with time worked .on.it:to enable the worker to draw his' money as soon as. the.work is finished, tho same as is done by. the'.private employers," were taken as one remit and adopted. Remit' No. 36, urging that proper sleeping and dining accommodation be provided for all stevedores working l in any roadstead in New Zealand was carried unanimously. - . ..' ' .