SAWMILL WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 21099, 3 June 1930, Page 3

SAWMILL WORKERS

SOUTHLAND UNION.

- MEETING OF EXECUTIVE.

A meeting of the executive of the Southland Sawmill Workers’ Union was held in the office on Saturday, May 31. The president, Mr A. Brown, presided over a large attendance of members.

Several communications were received from the Inspector of Awards, Dunedin, with reference to a number of sawmillers in the Catlins district paying wages monthly instead of fortnightly and stating that in accordance with the award they must be paid twice monthly, unless a ballot of the workers interested was conducted by the secretary of the union and the employer that wages be paid at other intervals.—Left in the secretary's hands for investigation. A communication was received from the secretary and president of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour stating that a National Council was making provisions for the calling of an open conference of all federations and trade unions in the Dominion to deal with the matters vitally affecting the welfare of the working people. Foremost among the matters to be dealt with would be the Unemployment Committee’s report, which had been presented to the Government, and as this report had not yet been discussed by the industrial labour movement it was necessary that some definite decision should be arrived at, as the Minister of Labour had already indicated that he would introduce an Unemployment Bill during this coming session. Therefore, it would be necessary that all organizations should appoint their delegates to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Wellington on notification of the date of the conference. —On the motion of Messrs J. Alsweiler and A. Smith, the secretary, Mr T. O’Byrne, was appointed to attend the proposed conference. A communication was received from a firm of barristers and solicitors in Dunedin stating that they had been appointed by an insurance company to negotiate on its behalf regarding compensation for an injured member at Tuatapere for the loss of earning power.—The case was left in the secretary’s hands to deal with. The secretary of the Tuatapere branch wrote forwarding the minutes of the last meeting, where important business had been dealt with.—The business transacted was endorsed.

A communication was received from Mr W. Nash, secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, asking for the annual return of the union’s membership and affiliation fees on same. —The secretary was instructed to furnish the required information, and the affiliation fees were passed for payment. Members from Orepuki, Hokonui, Tuatapere, Port Craig, and Catlins River wrote asking the union to negotiate under the Workers’ Compensation Act for payment on account of accidents that had occurred during their employment at the respective mills.—The secretary stated that he had all cases well in hand, and he was instructed to continue the negotiations until the cases were satisfactorily settled.

Two members wrote asking for financial assistance as they had been out of work for a considerable time on account of illness.—The president and secretary were instructed to make full inquiries into the cases of the applicants and report to the next meeting. A communication was received from the secretary of the Timber Trade and Timber Workers’ Protection League, Manunui, North Island, stating that a league had been formed in the King Country for the purpose of taking united action against the dumping of foreign timbers in the interest of all those engaged in the timber industry, and asking the union to enrol members in Southland. —It was stated at the meeting that such an organization was not necessary in Southland and Otago, as the whole of the timber workers were members of the Southland Union. The employers also had a strong organization, and when it came to the question of protesting against the dumping of foreign timbers, both organizations worked in harmony together, bringing pressure to bear upon the Government and referring to the foolishness of its policy in allowing the importation of soft timbers into New Zealand when there was an ample supply available for all ordinary industrial use. Therefore, it was thought unnecessary to have an overlapping organization when the ends could be gained by more effective organizations, which had been in existence for over a quarter of a century. Several employers wrote asking for good sawyers and other competent hands.—The secretary stated that he had attended to the matters.

Several communications were received from employers forwarding the arrears of contributions of defaulters in their employ. A firm of in Palmerston North wrote asking the position of partial dependents for compensation in reference to the death of a worker in the Gatlins River district last July, as their client did not appear to have much information concerning the cause of the worker’s death.—The secretary stated that he had supplied the whole of the correspondence, and information in connection with the case. The reason for not proceeding with legal action was on account of the difficulty in proving that the cause of death had arisen out of or in the course of employment. The solicitors had replied that after going through all the correspondence they were of the opinion that they could not establish reasonable grounds to prove the cause of death. A member from Catlins River wrote asking to be relieved of his arrears to the union on account of being out of employment and illness in his family.—Left in the hands of the secretary and mill delegates to inquire into the circumstances and report to the next meeting. The secretary reported having written to an employer in the Catlins River district under the preference to unionists clause under the I.C. and A. Act, stating that he had a non-member of the union in his employment and that if he refused to join up within seven days a capable member of the union would be sent down to take his place. The secretary also stated that sawmillers when engaging a worker must ascertain if they are members of the union and if not they must inform the delegate at the mill within seven days, otherwise they were liable to a heavy fine under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. —It was left in the secretary’s hands to see that the provisions of the award were carried out. Two members complained that they had not received their wages in full from a sawmiller in the Waikawa district whom they were working for during the beginning of 1929. —The secretary stated that it was the first time a complaint had been received, and 18 months had now elapsed since the liability had been incurred. The firm had gone out of the sawmilling business over twelve months ago, and it was a difficult task to gain redress. The secretary stated that members should complain at once in writing to the union if wages were not forthcoming on the usual pay day, otherwise they were running a big risk of losing their wages on account of lapse of time. The report was received and the secretary was instructed to make further inquiries into the matter. The secretary reported having visited mills in the Western District, also Glendhu, Waitane. and Haldane. Fourteen new members had been enrolled, and the sum of £75 was received in members’ contributions.