SECOND DAY.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 23, 11 August 1911, Page 11

SECOND DAY.

Mr. ToAvnsend asked for information, as to the numerical strength of the different branches. The general secretary said the re- 1 cords supplied to him by the late general secretary were: Canterbury, 1120 members, Wellington 974, Otago 759, Marlborough 4.50, Gisborne and East Coast 286—total, 35§9. The total was correct, but he was" 4 not sure _o£: the/,, accuracy of the' allocation to tire dii>% ferent districts, and . the/figures ■ were not classified as to shearers .and shed: hands. Wellington certainly had OA'er 1000 members. A cablegram Avas received from Mr. George Challis, of Ballarat, sending greetings to the conference. Mr. Challis was accorded a A'o'te of thanks. A provisional balance-sheet from April 30 to date was submitted by the«i general secretary. In discussing this, Mr. Laraey said he would like to: be instructed as to his-; exact position. From last November oiiAvards till March he had acted as organising secretary and general advertising manager of "The Maoriland Worker/ Mr. Waddell acting as general secretary. On the retirement of > Mr. Waddell, he had not knoAvn quite Avhat Avas his position—whether he resumed the general secretaryship "or remained as organising secretary, free to move about in different parts of the dominion. After some discussion, it Avas agreed that conference should define what.Mr.' Laracv's duties Avere at a later stage. The general secretary then gave.the results of the ballots which had been taken during last shearing season, A'iz. —That the head office should be in Christchurch; that the price of tickets should not-be increased, and that the Shearers' Association. . join with the NeAV Zealand Federation of Labor. The election of officers had resulted as follows:—President, A. J. King; vice-presidents, Messrs. Boon, Toaviisend and Morgan. Conference formally'endorsed the ballots as to location of, office and joining Avith NvZ. Federation of Labor. REMITS. The remits on the agenda paper AA'ere then dealt Avith, and the follo.Av-. ing resolutions carried: —;. That Rule 53, providing for the appointment of organisers, be adhered to; that a balance-sheet be printed

and copies distributed to the -shearing sheds; that sheds reps, receive 5 \per cent, commission on-the sale.of'iio? kets; that members holding more* Mian, one pen in sheds starting on or,about the same date be fined; that inspectors other than police be appointed to- inspect accommodation; that contributions for hospitals, etc., should besenfc through the Union ; that a bathroom should be provided at all sheds, .-with one bath for every ten men, or part often men, with hot and cold AvaterHaid ' on, provision for this to bo made ijjL the Accommodation Act; that - thp Executive call the attention of tho Health Department to the necessity of providing clean Avater; that conference place on record its approval of the manner in Avhich Mr. Laraey conducted the Shearers' dispute, -and ,o£ the stand taken by the executive- te get the pound per hundred; that- when shearers are engaging stands, * tho words "pound per hundred" be inserted in the engagement in Jieii' of "aAvaa-d rates" ; that Rule 99 in regard to Avidecub combs and cutters be strictly adherec] to; that representation at conference remain as at pr-esehfc .provided for in the rules of the -Association . A deputation -was appointed to deal with the remits referring to accommof dation, and to bring them under ,the notice of Mr, McLaren, M.P., and tho Minister of Labor. Resoh'ed that the secretary he ■ empowered to write a letter to the Sheepowners' Federation, asking that 1 where iioav sheds are being built the .space .allotted to each shearer on the board be not less'than 5 feet and the Avidth of the board not less than 7 feet 6 inches. It Avas also resolved that conference protest against Clause 2 of the boy scout IaAV, stating that all scouts .inusfc he loyal "to their employers at 'all times ; and that the price of tickets iti the Association remain as at present, as decided by the ballot, Messrs'Purvis and Cooper dissenting. _ •

A welcome was extended to Mr. RMoßae by conference.