GENERAL LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1013, 31 December 1910, Page 8

GENERAL LABOURERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Delegates to the General Labourers' Union Animal Conference concluded yesterday, tho business "which they had assembled to transact. There was a linal discussion in reference to tho proposed new award. It was decided to aslv tho employers for a minimum wage of Is. 3d. per hour. Tho union, further asks that the working week shall bo of 44 hours, eight hours per day and four on Saturday. A suggestion that labourers should be permitted to make up, on Saturday afternoon, time lost during the week, was rejected. It was resolved that no classification of employees should be countenanced by tlie union, and that labourers of every class should be on the samo footing. Tho last-stated proposal will, if it is carried, operate with particular forco in country districts. In Wellington city, labourers employed in tho building trade ..have a separate union. It was agreed to contribute 55.. from each member's annual contribution as a subscription to the "Weekly Herald." Committees are to bo set up by the branch unions, to act, in co-operation, with members of outside unions, in supporting tho Labour-paper. -

The conference adopted a suggestion, ot the retiring president (Mr. 1\ Shannon) in regard to tho secretaryship. Henceforth tho office will be held for three years, an election being held at the end of that period instead of annually as hitherto. The executive was authorised to draft a. Bill, or such amendments to' the Stone Quarries Act, as will .ensure adequate protection of lifo in such work as the' making of deep cuttings, drainage work, or reticulation, and travelling.. The executive is to submit,its proposals, under this head, to the Trades Councils' Conference for approval: It was decided to recommend the Trades Council Conference to suggest to the Government that. Labour Day should be observed on the second . Monday in November. . In response to a recommendation from tho Labour party that the Union,should take an active part in municipal elections,, tho .conference decided that each branch should be, authorised, to expend up to £5 in furthering the. interest of persons favourable to.the claims now being put forward on behalf of labourers employed by local "bodies, for improved conditions of labour and better wages.

A suggestion .was made that the union should organise branches at Patea and Gisborne. It was stated that labourers in these places were working for lower wages and poorer conditions than obtained, under the award, in Wellington. Both places, are outside the Wellington industrial district, and the ■ union was therefore powerless to' adopt the suggestion to organise. Sympathy was expressed with the suggestion, but delegates failed to . arrive at any method of giving it effect. An invitation by the Napier, delegates to hold the next conference in that town was accepted. The conferenco coucluded in the afternoon. Most of the delegates will return to their homes to-day.