TIMBER WORKERS' CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 240, 10 April 1912, Page 5

TIMBER WORKERS' CONFERENCE

A DOMINION AWARD URGED. By Telegraph—Prws Association. Wellington, Yesterday. E. Phelan (Auckland) presided at today's conference of the Federated Sawmillers and Timber Workers. The annual report stated that the executive thought the matter of organisation and making of a Dominion award should be further considered by the conference, which should also consider the question of federation. Wellington, Last Night. The question of obtaining a Dominion award caused a lengthy discussion at the timber workers' conference to-day. Mr. F. J. Lyons, who commenced the discussion, said that some of the unions were to blame in this matter in not letting the other unions know what they were doing. It was time the conference concentrated its attention on this question. The Wellington Union was going for new conditions, and definitions of yardmen, etc., were imperatively needed. All the holidays allowed were not wanted, especially in the bush mills. The Wellington employers would give nothing, as they knew the other unions were at sixes and sevens. He moved that .the conference adopt the principJb of a Dominion award. iMr. T. O'Byrne agreed that the unions should work more in concert, but there were places where the men were quite unorganised. The trouble was that there, were so many men .outside the union. When these men were enrolled it would be easier to secure a Dominion award.

The chairman (Mr. E. Phelan) said a legal and advisory committee, with representatives from eaeli centre, should he set up to simplify matters before approaching 'the Court. It was the duty of each union to finance that committee. The stronger unions should come to the assistance of the weaker ones by appointing a Dominion organiser. It was decided to set up an advisory committee of three to advise the unions to take cases before the Arbitration Court if necessary, and to act as assessors on the Conciliation Council. Messrs. F. J. Lyons, E. Phelan and J. O'Byrne were elected members of the Advisory Committee.