THE ARBITRATION ACT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2123, 15 April 1914, Page 5

THE ARBITRATION ACT

UNIONS CONSIDER IT. A CWii'erenco of delegates ffoia trades unions registered under tho Arbitration Act was opened at tho Trades ;Mall .yesterday. TJte object of tlie is tho consideration ef tie "Arbitration and Conciliation Acts generally, particularlj; the Labour Bispttto-s ■ Act, passed last session." Tho conference was convened by tho Auckland Union Secretaries' Association, a«d tiro delegates present numbered about forty. Mr. Arthur Kossor, of Auckland, opened tho proceedings by wekomißg the delegates. They had, bo declared, . cot the idea ef Uie conferenco from th« Some time ago tiio secretary cf the Ohinemnri Miiwjs , and Battery Employees' Union, which ho declared was not a .reai Arbitration body, issued a circular to all Arbitration "unions, ask■iag tlieiti to send delegates to α-conrer-«iu!« to be he-Id in either ■ Wellington or Auckland at Easter time, and to send in remits. Tho Auckland unions felt that they eoutd not sit in conference with unions of the Ohinemufi stamp without losing their self-respoot, but it was resolved to profit by the idea, ami tho present conference of genuine unionists was accordingly convened. Tho present was to be a memorable year in the history of Labour. It was election year, and to promote their cause they wanted to -secure unity in whatever they did.

The Press representatives (except the "Maoriiand Worker" reporter) were not admitted to tlje conference, and the following particulars were supplied officially.

Mr, Rosser was elected chairman, and Mr, B. Martin secretary.

Eighty unions' were represented hy delegates, and a larg« number notified that, owing; to financial stress, they could not attend, but that they concurred in the. gathering. Tliii hours of sitting were fised as follow:—&.30 a.m. to 12,30 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Coaj and cargo workers' appeal—lt was unaiiiniously decided that the conference should recommend alt unions present, to grant fiaaiwisl ai<3 in tlve' matter of an appeal to the Pntl Cooct in connection with the cttse recently -foncht at Aucklaml

The coijfcronco adjourned till this moriiiiiK, -to allow the committee "to draw tip its report on.the re&iits.