TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 382, 5 April 1902, Page 3

TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL.

By Tolegraph—Pres3 Association. Auckland, last night. The Trades Conference has resolved that the Conciliation and Arbitration Act should bo amended, making the party asking for an adjournment responsible for costs incurred by either side. The Government are to be requested to introduce legislation to prevent foreign vessels carrying cargo between New Zealand ports; also that they shall not receive mail subsidies. The Government are to be urged to appoint labor representatives on harbor boards, and to give more labor representation in the Legislative Council, and on all other private bodies on which the Government have power to nominate.

The Trades Conference unanimously resolved to urge the Government to amend the Shop and Shop Assistants Act in making it compulsory to close all shops not now exempt every day not later than 8 p.m., also on the weekly half-holiday whether there is a public holiday on that week or not. The Trades and Labor Conference resolved that the municipal councils of the colony be urged to press forward the municipalising of such public conveniences as trams, gas, electric lighting, baths, lecture hails, and places of amusement, and that the Government bo urged to extend the powers conferred on municipalities in respect to public conveniences, and also to county councils, and that the municipal corporation and Counties Acts be amended in tho direction of giving every elector the right to vote on a loan proposal; that the Coal Mines Act be amended, so that the royalty on coal for accidents be oxtended to apply to cases of sickness.

This afternoon tho Conference had to rush business in order to get through by to-morrow, and consequently the score or so of resolutions adopted had not received anything like mature consideration. Among tho things it was decided to urge on the Government were the establishment of State firo insurance; State tailoring and boot shops, for making boots and clothes for State employees; State forestry; that both grand and common juries be drawn from all classes; that all apprentices be legally indentured ; and that concessions in railway fares be granted to parties to disputes travelling to sittings of tho Conciliation Boards and Arbitration Court.

The Conference concludes to-morrow morning.