Conference of Shearers and Miners.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 February 1911, Page 21 (Supplement)

Conference of Shearers and Miners.

At 1.30 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, the adjourned conference of delegates from the New Zealand Federation of Labour and from the New Zealand Shearers' Union was held in the Trades Hall. Christchurch. Present: Messrs. Webb, Hickey, Semple, Hogg, Glover, Dowgray, Kraig, as representating the New Zealand Federation of Labour; Messrs. King, Laracy, W. M. Johnstone, Langstone, Waddell, Hall, and Miss Rout (Editor " The Maoriland Worker"), as representating the New Zealand Shearers' Union.

Mr. A. J. King was unanimously voted to the chair.

It was agreed that the newspaper Press be excluded; and that minutes be taken of the proceedings for publication in " The Maoriland Worker."

After a short retirement, the delegates from the New Zealand Federation of Labour announced that they had passed the following resolution: " That the New Zealand Federation of Labour pay the sum of £202 inclusive of the £50 already paid as their share of the liabilities incurred in running "The Maoriland Worker" on condition that "The Maoriland Worker" be assigned by a legal document to the Federation of Labour, and that no further liabilities be payable by the said Federation on account of the past issues of " The Maoriland Worker."

Mr Laracy explained that when the subscriptions to the paper were paid in, there would be a profit of £100 on the six months' transactions. The miners had been supplied with 4000 copies per month, and the shearers with 4000 copies, and the £202 '' liability '' on each body was really overdue payment of 3d per copy for papers received, less half the profit credited to each body. (Note. —A complete audited balance-sheet will be published in the March issue of " The Maoriland Worker."—Editor.)

A lengthy discussion of this resolution and of the financial affairs of "The Maoriland Worker" occupied the remainder of the day's sitting.

On Friday, Conference resumed at 9 a.m.

After some discussion, the Shearers retired to consider the resolution brought forward by the delegates from the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The resolution was agreed to by the Shearers' delegates. It was agreed to give the present Newspaper Board of the New Zealand Federation of Labour full control of the paper for the interval between now and the annual conference (July next), when a new Board would be elected by the whole of the members of the Federation.

At 12.30 Conference adjourned till 2.30 p.m., a visit to be paid in the meantime to a local printing establishment which was under offer to the Federation.

At 2.30 Conference resumed for the discussion of future arrangements in connection with the paper.

At a meeting of the Newspaper Board of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, it was decided : — (1) That the present name of the paper be retained. (2) That the first year's svibscription be fixed at 5/-. (3) That the next issiie come out on March 20, and be a 16-page paper, with 4-page cover; (4) That as soon as possible after this the issues should be weekly ; (5) That in the meantime the New Zealand Federation of Labour complete as soon as possible its present negotiations for the purchase of a plant; (6) That the policy of the paper be that outlined in the " Objects " ana " Constitution " of the New Zealand Federation of Labour; (7) That the paper be printed, published, edited, and controlled by the New Zealand Federation of Labour -,

(8) That the present commercial and editorial arrangements for " The Maoriland Worker '' close with the present issue, and that the arrangements for the future be made by the Newspaper Board of the New Zealand Federation of Labour.

It was also agreed that, for the sake of saving expense, an attempt should be made to hold the Shearers' Conference in July instead of April, and that the annual Conference of the New Zealand Federation of Labour be held at the same time.

Conference then closed