TRADES AND LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1412, 12 April 1912, Page 3

TRADES AND LABOUR.

DRIVERS'CONFERENCE.

ANNUAL CONFERENCES.

SOME PROBLEMS DISCUSSED,

UNITY AFHKMED,

When the Trades and Labour Council's annual conference, resumed yesterday morning n discussion was continued on the subject ot replacing the present president of the Arbitration Court by a layman. Messrs. Whiting (Canterbury) and Coleman (East Coast) supported the proposal, and it was eventually approved by seven votes to two. The confercneo considered the unity proposals in committee. On resuming, the following motion was moved by the chairman, and adopted:— "That this conference adopt the constitution drawn up by the Unity Conference, and that the said constitution bo substituted for the present constitution of the Trades and Labour Councils Federation." Mr. Burgoyne (Canterbury) moved:— "That the conference devise some systematic method of keeping constantly beforo the Government the decisions of conferences in reference to amendments of industrial legislation." It was felt by his council, Mr. Burgorne staled, thatmany matters should "be repeatedly brought under the notice of Ministers until they were given effect to. Permanent deputations might, be set. up in each centre to interview Ministers on every possible occasion. Mr. P. Mnir (Wellington) remarked that the conference should consider (ho advisability of appointing a representative to watch over its interests while Parliament was in session. On the motion of Mr. Breen, the following amendment was substituted for the motion, and carried: "That this conference recommends that the I'nited Labour party devise some systematic method of keeping before the Government the decisions and aims of the party, especially in reference to amendments of industrial legislation." Mr. Burgoyne withdrew the original motion, and the amendment was carried. THE COMPENSATION ACT. SOME DEFECTS. Mr.. Burgoyne (Canterbury) moved: "That .the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act be amended in the direction of nullifying; any agreement that may be entered into witn any insurance company and any person entitled to compensation." The resolution was intended to provide, he said, that no agreement should be entereil into with any insurance company which would deprive a man of the benelits to which he was entitled.

Mr.. Reader (Timani) moved as an amendment: "That the agreement settlinij compensation claims must bo signed by a magistrate or an inspector of award?." This provision, Mr. Render said, applied at present to cases of total incapacity, and it should be made general. The motion iis it stood would prevent any insurance agreement being entered into at all. Mr. Brcen proposed to add'at the end of the agreement "provided such agreement deprives any person of the full boueiic ot the Act."

Mr. Paul said that it seemed to him a strange thing that the compensation of widows and orphans of injured workmen should be made a source of profit to any individual. If a State did the business, premiums could bo reduced immensely. Some machinery.should be devised which would compensate the widow and orphan as soon as they lost their breadwinner, whether he was killed in following his trade or occupation or not. There were all sorts of faults in the New Zealand Workers' Compensation "Act, although it was one of tho best in the world. A widow had come to him recently who had been denied compensation because her husband had not hcea contributing (o her support for some time previous to his death. Nevertheless, this widow receiv"cd,a,biil from (he undertaker for her ''husband's funeral. Not in one case, but j in hundreds, defects had crept in, and in the future more attention must Iw given to the Workers' Compensation Act. After further discussion, tho motion was passed in the following form:—"That when an agreement is enteral into between any person and any insurance company, which deprives such person of the. full benefits to which he is entitled under the Act, such agreement shall have no force in law, and shall be void. Every agreement shall be subject to tho supervision of an inspector of factories or magistrate." Mr Burgoyne (Canterbury) moved:— "That the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act 1» amended so as to take away the power from the judge which allows him to withhold compensation unless tho patient submits to an anaesthetic for an operation." iU\ staled that in a Canterbury case tho Court had refused to grant" any compensation until the claimant had submitted to an anaesthetic and undergone an operation, lie claimed that this was an outrage on all workers, and should not bo tolerated.' Tho remit was approved. The next remit considered was one sent in by the Drivers' Conference, as follows: —"That the Workers' Compensation Act be amended so as to give full nny instead of half-pay during incapacity." ' Mr. Reader (Timaru) moved to add:— "That compensation shall be paid fortnightly when due." The motion and amendment were adopted. Mr. G. R. Whiting (Canterbury) was nermitted to move, without notice:— "That in the opinion of this conference the whole of the insurance business in connection with tho operations of tho Workers' Compensation Act should be taken over by the State." Mr. Burgoyne declared that the State Eire Insurance Department was nt_ present dominated to an extent by private companies, lie stated that he had proved this by personal experience. Tho'motion was carried. RE-AFFIRMATIONS. It was unanimously decided to reaffirm the desirability of Establishing a State boot and clothing factory, and beet sugar miils and refinery. STATE COAL. Mr. Coleman (East Coast) moved:— "That the Government be urged to open up additional State c«\l mines and depots, so as SB reduce the price of coal." Mr. Coleman .-aid that, his council bad ascertained that in places where depots existed coal was much cheaper than elsewhere. Mr. Whiting said that in some towns depots did nr,t exist, and yet the State mines did not work full time. It. had been said that the only way to meet the position was to nationalise th;.' t.nion Steamship Co.'s service, because that ■-.ompony refused to carry the coal. He believed it was a fact that the Union Company had sueh a control ot the present time that State coal could not be brought to tho various towns of the Dominion. Mr. Breen said that State mines should be opened in all the mining districts. Ho moved, as an amendment:—"That the Government be urged to open up additional Stnte coalmine? in tho various mining districts of the Dominion, and additional depots." Mr. W. Naugbton (Wellington) supported the amendment. The only practical wav to compete with monopolies, he said, w.Vs to npen in business asrainst them. Mr. M. J. Enrdo (Southland) stated that in hi« opinion the Government had made n deliberate attempt to administer the State; mines unsympnthetically, in order that the scheme might go to tho wall. The emended motion was carried. [On the above discussion being submitted to Mr. A. W. Horton, Traffic Manager for tho Union Coy. at Wellington, ho stated the Union's Co.'s steamers were carrying State coal to tho various ports in New Zealand, and that if. was not a fact that such cargoes were refused.] WORKERS' DWELLINGS. Mr. Coleman (Gisborne) moved:—"That tho Government be urged to amend the Act relating to workers" dwellings, so as to allow workers to build where they so desire." Mr. Reader ffimartt) said he believed, however, thai worker.; would be prepared to bear the additional cost involved in being allowed to select Mr. W. Xaiigh'.on supported the molion, and said thnt the conference should urge the Govenuuent to provide wore

money for workers' homes, so that the scheme might be extended. A million of money could bo profitably applied in this way at the present time. The motion was agreed to. The conference adjourned at noon, on the understanding that it should reassemble after the Unity Conference hud again met.

TIMBER INDUSTRY.

LONG LIST OF REQUESTS. UNIONS AND THE MINISTER. The delegates from the various branches of tho Sawmill Workers' .L'nions lylio have been in conference in Wellington this week waited upon the Minister for Labour (the JL.iii. G. Laurenson) l.ilay certain of the more important of their findings before him. Mr. E- Phelali. ol Auckland, president, of the 'limber and Sawmill Workers' I-'cderati«i, headed the deputation, and Mr. Robertson, M.P., introduced it. Mr. Veitch, M.P.. was present, but he stated that he attended merelv as an interested listener. Several of tho delegates spoke. lno - following is the purport of what the deputation asked: That aJi additional import duty be placed on Oregon pine under the size of 12 by 12 or its equivalent, irrespective of length; that State sawmills be established; that all country sawmills bo equipped with a stretcher, medicine chest, splints, and bandages; that legislation he introduced, compelling s,iw.niillers to provide better accommodation for their employees; that the Workmen's Wages Protection Act be amended so that wages should have first call against a bankrupt estate: (it was pointed out that claims under a claims for rent, and the expenses o, liquidation, all took precedence ot wages); that the Government, so soon a.s the South 1.-laiul Main Trunk line is completed, should establish a State ferry service between the two islands; that Hie Government take steps to prevent unnecessary rises in the cost of foodstuffs; that the Government should not introduce j the Davlight Saving Bill; that a more speedv 'method should be devised tor making an industrial agreement into an award'; that the Government extond their tree-planting operations; that the /Workers' Compensation Act be amended to permit of a worker receiving hall-pay from the dav on which the accident occurs, instead' of only after the lapse of a fortnight as at present; that worked-ont sawmill areas be subdivided for settlement, and that preference be given to sawmill hands in considering applications; that, heavier protective duties be put on manufactured doors and windows imported into New Zealand from Sweden and other countries; that statutory preference be given to unionists. The Minister's Reply. Tlic . Minister, i:i reply, said that ho did not think that all ol tho important matters brought forward by the deputation could be dealt with in the immediate future. Among them was the proposal to nationalise (he timber industry. It would be a very big undertaking, and, while he had a good deal ot sympathy with the idea, he did not Hunk the Government could tackle it at once. On the proposal that wages should have first call on a bankrupt estate, he said that he did not see how any alteration could be made in the law giving the, mortgage first call. Any change would probably do more harm than good. If mortgages were given second or third place" there would at once be necessary insurance rates on mortgages which would raise tho price of money to the borrower. He thought rent might very properly be superseded by wages, but the cost of administration'would have to take preference to wages. For his own part, ho was not in favour of increasing the duly on timber, because it would rai.e tho cost of building timber to even-Inly in ti?e community. At present the Cl.ivernment hoped to be able to arrange o reciprocity treaty with Australia, and ono of the' Australian products that- would be subject to reduced duties would v.robabljbe hardwood timbers. Seeing that the deputation's request did not apply to timber in big sizes, he would give :t eensidcracion. He thought fhe scheme to have a medicine chest and first-did requisites, at sawmills was a very r.rnper proposition, which the Government would shortly consider. He was in favour of preference to unionists, and lie l!;.u;ght tho law should provide for it. The Sta.Je ferry service 'is proposed was only a rntural corollary fo the extension of the South Island 'Main Trunk line. Such a ferry service would lie undertaken by any large railway company in auy part of fhe world. He discussed at some length the rise in the price of foodstuffs, (Hinting frequently from a pamphlet recently rim piled nn fl>e subject. This pamnhlet showed that: flic cost of living had not really increased more than three per cent, above normal. There had been big rises in the price of some things, but big falls in the price of others. The price of such a commodity as but'or was subject to fluctuation owing to the demands made by the markets of the world. It v.'-.iil 1 be impossible to regulate tho nrx-e of butter, or any other commodity largely exported. The rise in (he price of milk should be dealt with by iminieiinlmes. Farmers did not get too high prces for their milk, and the cost do the rnnsiiiiu-i' was altogether too high. He thu'.n;lit that if the municipalities would fak? ever tile business of supplying milk, much waste in distribution, brought about by the present silly competitive system, would be saved. He explained that he believed in the Daylight Saving Bill for indqor_ workers in town:;, but. it was never tended for outdoor workers. With regard to the request for a more speedy melh'ju of securing awards of the Court, he referred to the amending Act of lost year, which, he suggested, provided a means which was adequate. He agreed that something ought to be done to make the Arbitration Court moic of a lavman's court than a lawyer's court. He thought every sensible man must agree with him in this. No matter how good laws were passed, if they were agsravntingly administered they ceased to show go-)d results. He thought legal technicalities should, as far as possible, be eliminated from the working of the court. He was very glad lo have the deputation's recommendation re tree planting. He considered it a most important branch of State activity. He agreed that some amendment was necessary in the Workers' Compensation Act in the" direction indicated by the deputation. Employers paid last year in insurance premiums .£232,000, and the total amount paid out in compensation to workers was .£117,000. The balance was absorbed in commissions, fees, clerical expenses, and the payment of dividends. It was high time the payments under the Act were extended, no was not sure that if would not be a mistake to exclude Swedish doors from the Dominion, for, being built of Baltic timber, they were necessary for good buildings. At the same time lie recognised that we should try to protect our workers from competition from countries where low wages were paid for long hours. He. would see that the recommendations were brought before Cabinet. lie was heartily in sympathy with the bulk of them, and he hoped some of them would be given effect to before long.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. THE ARBITRATION COURT AND OTHER MATTERS. The Federated Drivers' Unions, whose delegates have been in conference in Wellington, laid their views on various topics before the Minister for Labour (the Hon. G. Laurenson) yesterday by medium of a deputation. Mr. 11. Hunter (Christchurch), secretary of the Drivers' Federation, led the deputation, which was introduced bv Mr. Robertson, M.P. Mr. Hunter said (hat Hie first matter they wished to speaL- about was tho constitution of the Arbitration Courl. The deputation thought that a business man should bo president of the Court, because at present ca.-es were dealt with in a legal manner ralher than in Ihe practical way in which they would be handled by a man who understood working conditions. Ho complained that the Drivers' Union, iii Christchurch, had never had their case properly investigated by the Court. A driver had to work 47* hours a week, exclusive of attendance on horses, which might amount to anything from ten to twenty hours a week. They had proposed to a.sk the Court to have their i hours defined, inclusive of stable duty, but the case was not reailv heard at all. lie asked the Minister to'deal with the matter on its uierils. lie -uggested. al«». Hint union secretaries should have power to inspect, time and wages-books, and -o free the Labour Department from the neces-ity of making iiuinberlesj petty in- ; quiries. He also urged that there should I be a universal half-holiday. At present J

drivers had no half-holiday, because shops closed one day, and warehouses another. lie also urged that the powers of inspector should lio c.vlcndcd.

.Mr. C. Davis (Auckland) thought dial at all small railway stations, as at the central stations. good-sheds should'close at noon on Safin-day.

Mr. I.ove (Wnnga'uui) spoke of amendments to Ihe Workers' Compensation Act. and advocated Hie deletion of Hint clause from liie Arbitration Act under which magistrates may dismiss complaints as "/frivolous." Id. slated Hint magistrates in some centres persisted in inllicling only small lines for breaches of awards, whereas in <>llu>rs substantial penalties were imposed, lie thought mngisl rales should be "induced" to line aci.-ordiug to the olVences. 11,. asked that the Arbitration Act should lie amended in the direction of preventing employers from cnufrncfiiig themselves out uf ihc conditions of an award. Mr. Robertson, M.P., referred to Ibis last matter as a. means of setting aside Hie Act by means of this system of conducts. At present the question did not crop up, but; in times of depression there was the means ready to hand of setting tho Act at nought. Mr. Laurenson in Reply. Mr. Laurenson dealt with the questions raised, ono by one. If secretaries of unions, ho said, were permitted to inspect time and wages books, there would be bitter opposition from employers, who had rights, as other people had, and the Government had to deal fairly with all classes. [I" tho inspection of books was not being done thoroughly, it: was the duly of the Department to havo more inspectors appointed. Concerning the extension of tho powers rf inspectors, he thought tho Government must see Hint , these powers were not inquisitorial. He agreed that Ilia hours of labour of drivers were u urea so ir.i bio, and if anything could b.i dono to reduce them ho would endeavour to do it. The fixing of hours was mainly in the hands of the Court, but Parliament could fix a maximum, and allow the Court fo fix hours up to that, so that hours should never be oppressive. He was in agreement with the deputation that the Arbitration Court, should bo a practical, rather than a legal, Court, and he admitted that there was much fo be said for the proposal to appoint a business man in charge of it. This involved a very big departure from tho policy hitherto followed, but it seemed a bad thing I hat an Act. which set out under such snlendid auspices,, should now be threatened with injury. Ho did not wish to discuss the causes, but the fact was that there had been a great deal of dissatisfaction with fhe Court, during the past two years, anil everything possible should be done lo resrore (he respect and the confidence of all classes in tho Court, in order to ensure industrial peace. He thought the halfholiday trouble could best be met by the institution of a statutory Saturday halfbpliday, with which he was in thorough agreement. lie- would refer to his colleague. Mr. Myers, the proposal that all railway goods sheds' should clcso at noon on Saturdays. He thought (ho request re "frivolous" charges was reasonable, and ho would givo consideration to it. no had drafted proposals in regard to the rights of employers to contract themselves out of their obligations, and he would submit them to Hie deputation after fhe mess representatives withdrew. He assured the deputation that their requests would be carefully considered.