LABOR IN CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 185, 27 July 1908, Page 4

LABOR IN CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph.—tress Association. Wellington, baturuay. At the sitting of the Trades and Labor Conference to-day the following resolutions were carried:— That the Conference recommends the abolition of the late closing night now existent in shops in order to urrng grocers', drapers', and other shop assistants under the same hours of labor as prevail in other trades. That the Government be urged to introduce legislation to provide for a universal compulsory Saturday halfholiday. That the Government be urged to introduce legislation to provide for a universal compulsory weekly day of rest.

That the Government be urged to amend the Shops and Ollic-es Act to give the police power to see that the provisions of the Act are complied witli. That the Government be urged to increase the duty oil Oregon pine coming into the Dominion. That the Government be urged to so amend the Municipal Corporations Act as to provide that the duties of a borough or suburban building inspector shall include the issuing of certificates showing the class of material a building is composed of, the said certificate to be filed in the Borough Council ollice for inspection.

That in the opinion of this Conference it is time the Government took into consideration the housing problem.

That the Government be urged to build workers' homes more speedily than in the past. That the Government, be urged to discontinue the leasing or alienation of mineral lands of the Dominion with a view to the State undertaking the working of all mineral resources. That the Conference approves the principal of the National Annuities Bill.

That labor repre*entaives should bo appointed on Harbor Boards, Charitable Aid Hoards, and hand Boards. That tlie workers nf the Dominion be iirffed to vote for nn-licenSp, \vi;'i ;i view to bringing the trnflie under i!»" control of tin- State. This resolution was adopted by 17 vote- to 7.

The Workers' Compensation Act \\a* considered at the Conference. and a number of suggested amendments were adopted. Included in these was the definition of a worker, (he Conference deciding to recommend that the word

"worker'* shall apply to and cover ni! workers covered hv the following definition :—"Worker means any person who has entered into or works under contract, at service or apprenticeship with an employer, whether by way of manual labor, clerical work or otherwise, or whether remunerated by wages, salary or otherwise." A discussion took p]a<o on the motion that provision be made in t-h<» Act for the trial of compensation for acei- | dent cases by jury on the application j of either party. The motion was neg- \ atived by 13 votes to fl. j