Shearers' Conference.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 25, 25 August 1911, Page 6

Shearers' Conference.

Official Report. —Continued.

FOURTH DAY.—Continued. The Federation delegates were hero admitted, with Messrs Rose (Editor of "The Maoriland Worker"), Hogg (manager), Freeman and Howard. The Federation delegates announced that it had been agreed that the rerepresentation offered to the shearers should be increased to three members on the Federation of Labor and two members on the Newspaper Board. This would be the recommendation of the, delegates to the various unions, and the unions would be asked to ratify this. They had no doubt at all, however, that the unions would ratify the recommendations, so that the matter could be regarded as virtually settled. As to the reduction of the contribution of 2s per year to Is per year, they would have to consult the unions in the Federation, and be guided by the ruling if the majority ; it would take about three weeks to obtain this decision , , and it would then be communicated to the shearers. Mr. Laracy said it must be understood that the shearers were only too ready to put all their money into the , paper on proper conditions; they were j willing to share the liability for the* borrowing of the £2000, but they were not allowed to do this. But it was not a question of gains and losses, of lia- -j bilities and assets • it .was a question, of workng harmoniously to build up a paper that would' be acceptable to the workers of New Zealand as ; a whole. ..-.'.... ■ i •■■■ ! Mr. Seinple said that he too was , most anxious that something practical, should be done; and that was why he was recommending only what he • knersv would be accepted by the unions in tho,< Federation. w : '; "' ; ; : Aftor : some : further discussion oiv»: the financial'affairs of "The Maori!and■; Worker" the Federation delegates r<p-.-' tired. ' ' ,; ''■■"' • ' i : Mr. E. Trogear was accorded a. welcome to the- conference, and replied: to some questions as to the desirability ©f unions being registered' under both, the. Arbitration ■■■■■■ Act and the Tradie "Union Act, and stated-that in bis opiri-; Jon. there was nd'benefit to be gained fey this. ..-,•-■. ! Mj:. R. Mcßao was allowed to take the x>lace of Mr. Morgan (Gisborne delegate), who has been obliged to tire,, but without voting power. Mr. Mcßao intimated that he refused to accept any fees attached to said office. NO SPLIT BETWEEN MINERS AND SHEARERS. The discussion- of the offers of the Federation delegates was then resum--ed, and the matter debated at lengths Mr. King moved, and Mr. Boon seconded: That the offer of the Federation delegates be accepted, and that in the event of their offer not being confirmed by the Federation of Labor, this Association of Shearers take a ballot of its members to withdraw.from the Fedf cration of Labor., ; ... ; Mr. Townsend moved, and Mr. Cooper seconded . a.s an amendment; That the shearers secede from the- Federation of Labor altogether, and that 'all this Association docs towards the .Federation of Labor is to pay for the ■levy tickets .that have, been collected. The amendment , was carried. ' After further discussion, Mr. Laracy moved, and Mr. Purvis seconded, as a farther aT»endment: That the Federation of Labor be requested to grant the shearers representation on the Executive, such representation to be three delegates; equal representation on the Newspaper * Board of "The Maoriland Worker"- also a reduction ©f the contribution to Is per member, and, failing to obtain this, that the necessary steps be taken for th© Shearers' Association to secede from tho Federation of Labor. This further amendment was carried and it was also resolved that in, the event of the delegates refusing to accept this, the shearers should accept tihe delegates' offer as mado earlier in the afternoon, pending tho taking of 4he ballot. Both Mr. Semple" and Mr. Webb entered emphatic protests against tins further amendment, and said that they thought their own offer fair and reasonable. They would decline personally to recommend it, although they would, of course, put the matter 'fairly and squarely to their memJoers. ■ Mr. Laracy' said there seemed to be a misunderstanding. It was the question of the contribution which was iorcmg the conference to take the pie-

Big Week's Work—lmportant Decisions.

biscite. Their members had refused to increase the price of ticket®, and without such increase the Association could not pay the contribution wanted by the Federation. Apart from this, there was no split at all with the miners and the shearers. It was arranged that the Federation delegates should wait upon the shearers again next morning. OTHER BUSINESS. Mr. King reported that the deputation had waited upon the Minister of Labor re shearers 'accommodation, and it was arranged that the shearers' de-

sires should be submitted .to the Minister. .-.jA: sub-committee consisting: of Messrs!-: -King, McLeod, and Townsend was appointed to go into the mattes-. It was resolved that the newspaper press be supplied with a condensed report of conference jyroceedings.

motion was" carried, with Mr. Town-s----end dissenting. ' L ■ The Federation delegates were then admitted; -ajid expressed their' approval of the stand taken by the shearers, as liiey con side red this would be better understood by the workers generjally than the on© adopted by the conference the previous day. They did -'not want the idea to get abroad that industrially the shearers and miners were not united. They.themselvesi would recommend ,-tho. proposals now made by the shearers, and they had no doubt these would be ratified by the unions. f The Federation delegates then retired, and the business on the agenda paper was resumed. Messrs. McLean and Kelly were welcomed to conference. The following remits were agreed to: That market reports, etc.,.bo published in "The Maoriland Worker," and the management be asked to staple the paper • that each branch have control of its own funds, but that it be a recommendation that branches should adhere to the present rate of salaries for the coming season. .

served a.s much as vioW of sharing any loss any liabilities that may be tho newspaper since Mar.cK :\l, a|f -1 f;;; & 31 * that the matter of the; .covered by the paper^le^y-.collected lla,st shearing season be put ih',the «aiids ot the Executive. " ""-^-' NEWSPAPER BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet; for .Maoriland Worker" for' September, 'J9lo> *° February 28, 1911j ; Whilst under tV, control of the Shearers' Association, was received and adopted. The balancesheet showed that 4000 copies of the paper had been sold to the miners and 4000 to the - shearers, at 3d per copy per month, and that these sales, with other subscriptions and donations,, letu a net profit on the six months' operations of £98, was deducted in equal part from the sale money oi miners and shearers. „ OTHER BUSINESS. Resolved: That abettor of thanks bo written to Mr. McLaren, M.P., . for the assistance rendered and Promised to the shearers in connection with, mc