TIMBER PROBLEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 7

TIMBER PROBLEMS

WORKERS APPROACH SIR JOSEPH WARD heavier duties wanted (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) ! WELLINGTON, Tuesday. j A shoal of requests in connec- i tion with the timber industry were i made to the Prime M inister, the Rt. i Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, today by a j deputation from the New Zealand | Timber Workers’ Conference, j which has been sitting in Wellington. Reciprocal arrangements with Tasmania for workers’ compensation, compulsory insurance by employers, hospital payments, and heavy restrictions on imported timbers were among the requests. j With the Prime Minister there was i also the Hon. W. A. Veitcb, Minister of Labour. Mr. H. E. Holland introduced the deputation. The first speaker was Mr. F. L. Turley, -who said that first of all there was desired a reciprocal arrangement between Tasmania and New Zealand in regard to workers’ compensation. Tasmania was the only State of the Commonwealth which did not have such an agreement with New Zealand. Urgent action in this respect was wanted. The next request was for compulsory insurance for employers, as no provision was made for that in existing legislation. They should be compelled to insure, preferably, of course, in the State office. It was also desired that in cases of bankruptcy, a fortnight’s wages to the men should be the first claim on the estate. The mill-workers on the West Coast paid about £1,300 a year to the hospitals for treatment, but this was not enough for the free service given, and it was desired that legislation should be brought into force providing that employers pay -1-d a hundred feet royalty to enable workers to contribute more and that they should be empowered to deduct 2s a month from the workers' wages as well, the royalty and deduction to be administered as a trust fund for the hospital treatment. Many employers were willing to pay Id royalty. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION Another request was for an amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Act protecting a man injured while helping a workmate. The Arbitration Act was desired to be amended so that the unions, which had to proceed against the employers in cases of award breaches, could be entitled to the payment of costs out of fines inflicted. At present they had to bear their own costs. The deputation asked for prohibition of the importation of foreignmanufactured timber articles and of all foreign timbers up to 12 by 6 x 16i't long. There should be au increase in the duty on imported timbers. This step would provide more employment for New Zealanders and improve the position of the trade, which now employed only about 6,000 men instead of the 12,000 of some years ago. A plea was entered tor the New Zealand-manufactured fruitcase instead of that made of imported timber. New Zealand had plenty of timber suitable for fruit aud butter boxes. Then the Forestry Department's fixing of prices for the sale of timber was considered wrong, and the old Lauds Department scale should be reverted to—that of a straight-out i-oyalty on all timber cut. This gave the workingman a better chance. Mr. Lucas referred to the necessity of protecting city sawmills by the imposition of higher tariff on imported timber. This should go on to all articles that could be manufactured in New Zealand. Mr. R. M. Mact’arlane referred to the drift of timber-workers from the bush to the town and the swelling of the ranks of the unemployed. The Prime Minister said that the requests would receive full consideration and that he would make representations to Tasmania on the subject of reciprocity in workers’ compensation. DIVERGENT OPINIONS There were divergent opinions ou the timber duty question, and the effect of high duty on the cost of building would have to be considered. He would ask the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, to investigate the question of payment to hospitals. If the Government could legislate to improve the lot of the timberworker —although he could make no definite promise—it would be pleased to do so.

The Hon. "W. A. Veitch said that after inquiry he had found that wages took precedence over ordinary debts and rent, but not over mortgages in bankrupt estates. Mr. Turley explained to (he Prime Minister that in spite of duties placed ou imported timbers by the late Government New Zealand timber had dropped in price from 5s to Ss a hundred, so that the duty made no difference. Mr. Holland said that the employers had at that time undertaken not to raise the price. Sir Joseph Ward: Then you have a strong case.