TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2247, 20 July 1908, Page 2

TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL.

CONFERENCE OPENS TO-DAY. To-day the annual conference of the Now Zealand Trades and Labor Council opens at Wellington, and no doubt considorablo interest will bo taken in tho proceedings, for at the present time tlie attitude ol Labor concerning arbitration and tho amendment of the Arbitration Act is tho chief tliomo throughout tho colony. Ono of tho main questions to ho deckled by tho presont Parliament is to pass such amendments to tlie Arbitration Act ao will meet with the approval of the employers and the bulk of tho workers. No doubt tho discussion of tlie proposed Government amend incuts to tho Act by tho Conference, and the resolutions' carried thereat, will give the Labor members in Parliament a lead on the question and consolidate their numbers. The Legislative Council lias adjourned till Wednesday, and thus tho Labor representatives of the Upper Chamber will bo enabled to attend tho Conference.

The agenda paper lo lie considered is a large one, comprising no loss than 41 remits. The following are tho chief items: Nationalisation of land, marine coastal and intercolonial service, sawmilling, ironworks, hoot factories, bakeries, clothing factories, Hour -and woollen mills, and iron shipbuilding yards; introduction of the referendum, with the initiative in tho hands of the people; tho abolition of the Legislative Council; tho endorsing of the National Annuities Bill; the urging upon the Government to build more workers’ homes; tho asking of the Government to consider the housing problem and to bring down a Fair Rent Bill; the introduction of a uniform set of school hooks and single desks in all new schools; also, that the Electoral Act bo amended, making it illegal for any candidate for Parliamentary honors to make donations within three months of an election ; that the introduction oi labor into tlie Dominion under contract he prevented; that the Government appoint Labor reorcsentatiives on Harbor Boards, Charitable Aid Boards, Lund Boards, and all other institutions where they have power of appointment; Unit tlie Government he urged to introduce a Saturday Half-Holiday Bill, and also tho abolition of the late closing night aimoil g grocers, drapers, eta; that the Municipal Franchise Reform Act he amended, so that the Parliamentary franchise bo applicable to all municipal elections and polls on any question; that the Old Age Pensions Act bo amended in the direction of providing a pension of 12s 6d per week, and that all persons incapable ol earning a living, either from sickness, accident, or natural infirmities be entitled to a pension regardless of the age limit (this motion was raised m tlie House lately in tho form of a question, but Sir Joseph Ward replied that the Government did not intend to alter tho Act in the direction indicated); that all goods manufactured in New Zealand bo branded Made in New Zealand.” A number of amendments to various Labor Acts are suggested, including compulsory preference to unionists and the fixing of a minimum wage by Parliament. Dealing with the present Arbitration Act, amendments arc proposed in the following direction to Conciliation Boards: the election of ono member h.V the industrial union of workers and one member by tho industrial union of employers, with a chairman appointed by the two, and that when a dispute is filed for hearing by the Board, the union and the employers concerned to appoint two represenratives each to sit witli the other members of tho Board and adjudicate on the dispute. The agenda paper is thus seen to ho a- large one, and will doubtless occupy several days for consideration The Hon. John Barr, M.L.C., is the delegate representing the East Coast 1 fades and Labor Council.