TRADES COUNCILS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 15

TRADES COUNCILS.

CONFERENCE PROGRESSING.

O.\E DAY'S WORK.

The Trades and Labour Councils.' Conference resumed its sessions yesterday. 1 ordd (Southland) moved:—''That the Government be urged to grant the workers residing in the suburbs outside tho larger towns similar railway concessions and accommodation to those granted to workers residing in the suburbs of the cities.'' Mi'. I'eardon seconded the motion, which was carried. The following M elliugton remit was adopted:—"That the Government bo urged to have nil school books printed by the, Stato and issued free." About Rents. Mr. Noot moved on'behalf of the Auckland delegate:—"That tho" Government be urged to erect a larger number of houses m each centre with a view of bringing down the extortionate rents noiv being charged by landlords." I, s ' l !l iva ". seconding the motion, s«aa tuat liis council were of opinion that it anything of this kind were don© it should be done first- for the poorer class \r wag £ ca ,rners, the ""skilled labourers. • . ade ,S ( T i ma r,") snid that he did not think tho landlord was altogether to blame, for, owing to the high price i i? - building material, tho landlord often had difficulty in getting a return for his money. Until some method was found by which tho unearned increment could bo secured to the community, and by which building' material could bo secured at cost price, the position would probably remain as it was. .Air. Burgoyne agreed with Mr. Reader. He urged also that the houses to be built in the future should bo to supply the wants of the mail getting only 30s. or 355. a week, who could not afford to pay more rent than 7s. or Bs. a week. Tha auction was one difficult of solution. The motion was carried. State Enterprises. By a letter from tho Christchurch trades Council the conference was asked c an investigation into the causes ; of the high price of coal. , Mr. Whit'ing (Canterbury) said' that' there was annoyance in Christchurch over. the increase in the price of State coal. It appeared to workers that there was a hugo monopoly in the coal trade, or that, there was some sort of a combine which was exerting pressure on the State Coal Department.* He moved that the matter be referred to tho executive of the United Labour Party. Mr. Sullivan referred to the complaints sometimes heard of mismanagement in the State coal enterprise. He was of opinion- that'sympatheticand vigorous administration of State enterprises could not be expected at the hands of a Gov- , ernment which was uot really in sympathy with the projects, and which had been really forced to take them up under pressure from public opinion. The motion was carried. Mr. Whiting moved: "For the purpose of reducing the excessive cost of living this conference urges the Government to immediately establish competitive. Stato services and factories." : Mr.,.Sullivan .seconded the motion. Mr. Forde (Southland) said farmers were . beginning to realise that they, must get rid of the lmddleman, and .-'ere now co-' operating to sell their produca them- ■ selves. ■ ' I -• .. The motion, was carried. " Many Resolutions. The following remit from Gisborne was : carried j—"That this conference request ; Parliament to amend the law so as to allow trade union secretaries to inspect all time books, pa.v sleets, and holiday books, as now kept, in compliance with the Shops and Offices Act."

I The following: Timaru remit was adopted:—"That the Scaffolding Act bo amend-ed-in~such manner that- the- inspector-be permitted to enter yards or premises of contractors, builders, painters, or others (including shops, stores, etc.), who use steps, ladders, or other such material, for scaffolding in their business, and that the inspector have power to condemn any Such material that he may consider unsafe or unsuitable, whether the same be in actual use or not."

Another remit from Timaru was adopted, with little discussion :-"That all persons placed in charge of quarries be compelled to pass examinations provinc their qualification to hold such position." Mr. Reader (Timaru) moved:—"That Government be urged to place an export duty of 3d. per lb. on nil hides, skins, and greasy wool leaving the colony, without being manufactured or scoured, which deprives a largo number of men of employment. ' The mover said there was ' a tendency at present to ship goods Home in their rough state, and. so employment was taken away from New Zealand workers.

The motion was carried. The following remits from Timaru were oarried:—"T(iat the maximum weight for manure, lime and all farm produce' in bags bs 2061b., ns at present arranged by the New Zealand Railways, for carriage of grain; and. further, that the same 'apply to all goocls i received by dravs, wagons, traction engines, or other vehicles, received or delivered at stores, sliod«, or other places." "That the controlling of pas and oil engines, and motor or otlier vehicles, driven by their own motive p ?Yi er, ° rou Sht under the supervision of the Inspector of Machinery, and drivers or riders of same be compelled to have certificates of competency." fOu the motion of Mr. Muir (Wellington) the conference reaffirmed the Plumbers Registration Bill. The Auckland delegato moved that the conference reaffirm an eight-hours dav and a forty-four hours week for all worker?, and the,compulsory brandin" of all gond 1 ?. Pho motion was carried. _ On the motion of Mr. Bnrgoyne, it. was (lecid°d:—"That free legal bureaux bo established, w:tb a view to a«iAtine workers earning not more than ,£175 ner annum. 1

On the motion of Mr.' Colder, it. was agreed:—"That this conference endorse the abolition of capital punishment." On fre motion of Mr. Golder (Auckland), tui: conference adopted the following remit:—"That the powers vested in justices of the peace of visiting gaols and ordering, punishmeut bo withdrawn." On the motion of Mr. Golder (Auckland), the following remit was adopted:— "That this conference, protests against the use of public money for contributions to employers' associations." It was pointed out. that-the matter objected to was the practice of some local bodies cited before the Arbitration Court as parties to an award, paying for the services of the Employers' Association agent acting in their defence.

After some discussion, and various amendments, the following motion, moved in the first instance by the East Coast delegate, was carried:—"That the Government be urged to carry out stricter supervision of all gear used for working cargo in shipping circles." Land Values League, A deputation from the New Zealand Land Values League, headed by Mr. P. J. O'Rcgan, waited upon the. council to advance certain. of their views. Mr. O'lfrgan said that the Land Values League stood for the socialisation of land by taxation, and the league wished to bring under the notice of the conference some points of vital importance to the community. It had been the law since 18DG that taxation upon improved values could be adopted by a municipality by taking a poll of ratepayers. This was a cumbersome business, and the league felt that the time had arrived when local taxation should be imposed on unimproved values by mandatory Act of Parliament. Another "matter to "which he wished to refer was a startling proposition in the Governor's speech ill the. recent short session of Parliament—a proposal lo rrusa the exemption under the land lax from •fiiOO lo .£10(11). Practically it would mean the abolition of the land tax altogether, for As the graduated land tax fulfilled its main, object the Jandholder.-i would all in time como within the .-1000 exemption. It whs a proposition that would b& a sage of gl:ulne?s to every land syndicate promoter, and to every srjuutter iti this country. Mr. Arthur 'Withy supported Mr. O'Regan's proposals. The conference promised to consider the deputation's recommendation. The conference was adjourned until 11.30 a.iri. to-dny.