HOTEL WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 6

HOTEL WORKERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. SIX DAYS A WEEK BILL. The fourth annual conference of delegates representing tho unions affiliated to the Hotel Employees' Federation opened at tho Trades Hall yesterday. Tho following delegates were present Auckland: Messrs. J. Dunlop and T. Lon»; Kotorua: Mr. F. Young; Gisborne: Mr. A. S. Richards; Waiiganui: Mr. D. J. Conchie; Palmerston North: Mr. P. AVright; Hastings and Napier: Mr. J. Moss; Wellington: Messrs. M. Solomon, H. O'Malloy, and E. J. Carey, together with members of the local executivo; Dimcdin: Misses K. Poff and S. l'ord and Mr. J. Haymes. The conference was not open to' tho press, and the following report was supplied by the secretary (Mr. E. J. Carey):— Mr. T. Long was elected president ot the conference, and Mr. E. J. Carey secretary. Conference also decided to. telegraph to Messrs. Hannan, Webb, and Michel, tho three candidates for the Ureymouth seat, asking for their support in the matter or securing the passage through the House of tho Six Day Week Bill.' The lengthy executive report dealt with the dropping of the Bill Jast session, the question ot registry offico fees, the legislative restriction of the hours of work in private hotels and clubs, defects in the Barmaids Registration Bill, and other matters. A resolution of condolence with tho widow and family of the Jato Mr. Love, one time secretary of _ the AVanganui branch, was carried, and it was decided to place on record the federations appreciation of the services rendered by the late secretary. The financial statement showed assets amounting to, roughly, £100. It was also shown that there are now oyer organised workers in the federation. A letter was received from the Prime Minister intimating that he would receive a deputation from the conference at noon to-day. Telegrams were received from Mr. Breen (Otago Council) and others wishing the conference success, and trusting their efforts would, result in. tho passage of a holiday Bill this session.' Most of the afternoon was spent in consideration of' the question of the promotion of the Bill of last session granting one day's rest in seven to hotel employees. All the delegates unanimously approved on behalf of their organisations of the principle of tho Bill, and a sub-committee was set up to report later to tho conference as to the west methods of giving effect to the wishes of the organisations in the matter. The next business was consideration ot several remits from all the centres, dealing with the suggested further amendments of the Shops and • Offices Act <in the direction of making tho legislation | cover the hours and holiday conditions m Srivate* hotels, boarding-houses, and clubs. I delegates all wished it to be understood that no union desired to ;ask for the regulation of domestic conccnis, and in the end it waV suggested that no club or private hotel which employed less than three workers should be deemed to be covered by tho legislation sought. Tho conference unanimously approved of the Wellington remit, which suggested amendments to the. Shops and Offices Act in the direction of limiting the hours of workers in the trade to 56 per week for male workers, and 50 for women. Delegates considered that the present regulation of 62 hours per week for men and 58 for women in hotels was altogether inconsistent with the boasted eight-hour day in New Zealand, and that 58 lionrs' work per week for women should not be permitted. The delegation set up to meet the Minister was asked to iinpre=3 upon him the fairness .of the conference s demand, especially in respect of the limitation of hours for women workers to 50 per Under the existing law breaches of tho Act may be taken up only by tho Labour Department. According to the statement of delegates, dozens of oases had occurred in the past in which the Department had failed to take action in clear cases of breach of the holidays -and hours provisions of the Act, and a further resolution was carried instructing the deputation to ask for the amendment of the Act so as to enablo secretaries of unions in the trade affected to havo the alternative of taking oases for such breaches if they so desired. . The failure of tho present regulations for tho proper keeping of time and wages books was also dealt with. In Western Australia, under an award, secretaries of unions in the trade have power to inspect the time and wages record of hotel workers, and a remit asking for the same power for union secretaries in the Dominion was unanimously approved by tho conference. When the meeting adjourned, delegate irero considering tho question of which union should bo the executive union for tho ensuing yeaT. ■