LABOUR LEGISLATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 90, 18 April 1900, Page 2

LABOUR LEGISLATION.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, April 17, The report of the Executive of the Trades Conference, after referriog to the legislation of last session and the necessity for amending the Factories Bill, refers to the Arbitration Act as the sheet anchor of the trades unions, [n view of Judge Edwards' decision, strong representations should be made to the Government to bring all unions under the provisions of the Act, as the Executive is firmly convinced that th<Legislature never anticipated such a narrow interpretation of the term '• industrial." Other amendments are also required. Reference is make to a case now before the Couit regarding preference of employment to unionists, aud ■he opinion was expressed that fund:in easily be raised to take it, if necis «ary, to tho Privy Council. Rysolu o-'ons were passed that tho Act should oe amended in the direction of making ic accessible to all workers; tint any imploycr beginning business eubsß- - to an industrial award or agreement should bo bound by it; tba* | mioDS should bo permitted under the | Arbitration Act to grant clearances to members leaving one industrial district for another ; that counsel should bt prohibited from appearing at the hearing of disputes ; and that the original title of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, namely, "An Act to encourage the formation of unions," should be reinstated. A motion that the Government should be asked to amend the Act to make preference of employment for unionists compulsory was carried with one dissentient, who thought unions would be kept more up to the mark it they had to fight for preference, and that if compulsory it might be abused,

Latep.. Most of the afternoon was taken up by the Trades Conference in considering further amendments in the Act. It was agreed that sittings of the Arbitration Court should be held at intervals of not more than three months. A proposal that awards should apply throughout the whole industrial distriot evoked considerable discussion, as some members held that an award might be fair enough for one place but not for another. Eventually the motion was amended to provide only for an award in the chief centre applying, and miners were exempted. The Factories Act was next considered. It was resolved that the hours of labour for females and boys should be not more than eight per day and four on Satur- | days, and permits forovertime on Haturj days should be abolished; that there should bo a compulsory weekly halfholiday for adults ; that all workers in factories should be compelled to come under the Act.