FEDERATION OF LABOUR CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2818, 8 July 1916, Page 7

FEDERATION OF LABOUR CONFERENCE

— VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS'. The United Federation of Labour. Conference resumed yesterday. The following resolutions were carried That the District Councils in Wellington, Cliristchurch, and Dunedin be recommended to follow the example of the Auckland District Council in urging the unions in each industrial district to appoint an advocate to conduct all cases in the Councils of Conciliation and Arbitration Court in that industrial district. That Parliament be urged to amend the Mining Act by malting it. an offence for'n winding-engine driver to leave his engine after having received a portion of a signal, until he has obeyed the signal in full.

That the Mining Act be amended by adding Sub-sections 2 and of .Section S2 of the Coal Mines Act. thus enabling quartz 'miners to form and control medical associations -where the majority of the employees in a mine so decide.

That we urge the Government to introduce legislation to own and control the machinery in connection with the Workers' Compensation Act, with a view to preventing undue taxation upon industry and ensuring to injured workers the full benefits, of compensation for accidents.

' That the Government be urged to amend the Miners' Phthisis Act, (a)'by providing a more adequate pension; (b) deleting the obnoxious clause which provides for the naturalisation of applicants. '"

That conference recommends the nomination of Messrs. J. M'Cullougli and J. Dowgray for the positions of chief' and deputy member of the Arbitration Court.' That the executive of the. Federation be stationed at Cliristchurch for the ensuing year. That this conference of the U.F.L. censure the Government for not taking steps to protect- the people against the ruthless exploitation of the food monopolists of -this country; and further contend that the setting up of a fohd commission to sit in camera is an attempt on the part of the Government to shirk their pro-

mise to .the people at the last election that they would (leal promptly with the increased cost of living. The conference then sat jointly with the conference of Iho Social Democratic Party to consider the political situation. Mr: .1. Dow-gray presided. The following resolution was carried That in the opinion of this joint conference of the United Federation of Labour, Social Democratic. Party, and Labour Representation Committors the timehas arrived for the formation of a New Zealand Labour Party, for" the purpose of consolidating the political forces of Labour. That a sub-committee of seven be set up to prepare n draft constitution and programme as a basis of organisation, for submission to this joint conference in the first place, and then to the U.F.L. and R.I).P. conferences, respectively. A committee of seven was set up to draft a constitution (or submission to the both parties.