DEMANDS OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 11

DEMANDS OF LABOUR.

DEPUTATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER. THE'MINES COMMISSION. A strong deputation from the Federation of Labour of Now Zealand, which lias- just concluded its conference in Wellington, .waited upon tho Prime Minister and the Hon. J. A. Millar yesterday morning, and brought under notice a number of matters arising out of tho conference. Speaking on behalf of the flaxmillers and dairy employees, Mr. Kobertson drew attention to the position of the interpretation legalising contracts between employer and employee. These contracts, ho urged, enabled the prorisions of the arbitration awards' to' bo evaded. If the Act was not to bo nullified, legislation must .be ■ brought ■ down preventing contracting outsido the awards. ' Tho Premier interposed that it was proposed to meet this objection in legislation, which was to be brought down this session. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar said it was adifficult matter to deal with, as some of the workers.did not wish to see the contract system entirely done away , with. Tho only.thing he could suggest was to make it impossible for a contract to.be taken at a rate lower than the award wago in the tKide concerned.' Mr. R. Semplo proposed that it should be made cotopulsory far chaiißehouses to be provided at all mines, each' change-house to have a minimum j'iloor space of 2ft. square for each employee, and to be provided with • hot and cold water. ■ There was a great need for enforcing proper sanitary conditions at all ■ mines. The Government had promised a commission to inquire into the working conditions •of all mines, and he suggested that the workers should have the right to appoint two of tho members of tlje commission, whilst the employers were given a similar right. Tho scope of tho commission, ho suggested, should bo such that it would cover inquiry. into the working conditions at the Otira tunnel. „ A special sitting could be held for this purpose,' and so placo tho exact position before the Government. ! Mr. Hickcy. referred at length to tho conditions prevailing at tho. Otira tunnel. ■.'•■• Mr. P. J. O'Regan, referring to the Workers'' Compensation for Accidents ■Act, commented on the position in regard to. restriction in the matter of domicile, and nrged that the Act should be amended so that the relatives of a worker, whether domiciled in New Zealand, as required at present, or not, should, bo able to receive the benefits of' tho Act. He suggested that the restriction of domicile, if not abolished, should -bo modified; Referring' to the limit of £5 a week, up to which sum only a worker could claim compensation, he thought it should be. provided in tho amending Act' that this limitation should not be applicable to manual labour. .

Mr. Parry also made a 'number, of suggestions. . ■ The Prime Minister promised that tho matters brought forward by tho deputation would receive full consideration. At the present moment ho could'only touch on one or two of tho points raised, and on which a decision had been come to. As to the recommendations iri regard to , change-rooms; he would ask tho'Minister'for,Mines to look into this matter.' He fully recognised the importance of the suggestions made, and they seemed to him-to be a step in tho right direction. As to the Royal Commission, he would carefully consider the recommendations ma'do as to its composition. What was wanted a strong commission, the recommendations of .which would be of valuo not only to the Government, but to tho country as a whole. ' Ho did not think tho working conditions at the Otira'tunnel should-bo. merged in tho report on the working of tho underground coal and goldmines of; New Zealand. This was the case of a Government contract, and he had to see that tho people of tho country,' as one party to tho; contract, were ■ not involved in heavy- damages. If .there 'was a duty to the workers, there was also'one to the country. If a commission were appointed to inquire into the. working conditions at Otira,-.there were: other places that' would havo a right to make a similar demand. Tho Minister for Public Works, who'.ivas absent from the city, had had this Otira matter before him, and'he would ask him to go into tho whole question. Ho appreciated the points raised by ■Mr.' O'Began in regard' to tho compensation limitation proviso. An alteration was proposed\in the new Bill ithat the limitation should apply to men receiving £250' a year, and not £5 a week as at present. Tho manual labourer did not earn £250 a year, so that the proposed alteration would provide for what was asked. The matter of domicile was not an easy one. There was reciprocity between New Zealand and New South ."Wales, but not with Victoria. If a New"Zcalander was killed in Victoria we would have to support his dependents here. In h(s opinion representations should bo made to the Federal Government on the point, but it-would not bo a practical business to do what--was suggested without general reciprocity. Tho suggested ■ amendments to the Mining Act would be referred to the Minister for Mines to look into. Replying'to .a question as the deputation was withdrawing, the Prime Minister said that he would see to; it that a responsible officer was sent down to Otira without delay to inako inquiries into the working conditions at the big tunnel. He "would inform the Hon. Mr. Guinness when the officer would be leaving.