LABOR IN CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 182, 23 July 1908, Page 2

LABOR IN CONFERENCE

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday

At the Trades Council's Conference a motion was submitted: "That this Conference re-allirms the principles laid down in the Hon. K. P. Kceve's MU known as the Industrial ConcilißtiiOn and Arbitration Act, of 1004."

It was stated during the discussion that, if the Conference re-affirmed t'lie principles laid down in tho Act it would be tantamount to disapproval of the proposed new labor legislation. An amendment was moved: "That the Conference re-allirms the principles of conciliation and arbitration, as the experience of the past has shown that the workers of the Dominion have received considerable benefit from that system us against the brutal system of strikes and lock-outs."

. One delegate asserted that labor throughout the Dominion was "seething wilh discontent with the existing Act." As amended, the motion wus carried. Wellington; Last Night. At the Trades and Labor Councils Conference to-day a resolution was passed, alter a long discussion, affirming the principles of the original Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act of 1804. In dealing with the Government's new Bill, it was resolved that the Conference disapprove of all sections in part 1 of the Bill excepting clause 8 (which proposes to repeal section 15 of the 1005 Act dealing with recovery of fines, etc.). It was decided to allow clause 11. part 2, of the Bill (dealing with the transference of enforcements of awards from the Court to Stipendiary Magistrates) to'stnud, with the adilili •'■ that magistrates should have the ns: i.; mice of assessors to advise on technicalities. Clause 12 (application of i>r sions as to enforcement of award- a ' I agreements) was approved. In clause I'(providing for a fine of €IOO for breach of awards) was amended by inserting the words '"not exceeding" before flOf). It was decided that appeals to the Arbitration Court from a magistrate's decision should be allowed on points of law onlv. Clause 21 (deduction of wages for payment of lines) was disapproved. Clause 25 of part 3 (abolishing Conciliation Hoards and leading up to the appointment of the proposed new Council of Conciliation) was disapproved. The Conference will proceed to discuss the rest of the measure tomorrow.