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 3. To secure compensation fully commensurate with the dangers of our employment, and the right to use our earnings free from the dictation of any person whomsoever.

4. To secure legislation giving compulsory preference to unionists, and in all lawful ways to co-operate with one another for the purpose of procuring a just share of the profits of our toil, to shorten the hours of labour, and the mutual advancement in order that the general welfare of the members and their families may be steadily advanced and promoted.

5. To maintain a spirit of fraternal sympathy with the workers of all other countries.

6. To use our united efforts to discourage the contract labour and bonus systems, and as soon as possible to abolish same, believing the said systems to be detrimental to the best interests of organised labour.

7. To enable and provide for the Federation to own, publish and control a weekly labour newspaper.

At this conference a resolution was submitted reading as follows: “That this conference is in favour of registering under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.” This resolution was withdrawn in favour of the following: “This conference affirms the principles or arbitration and conciliation as laid down by Hon. W. P. Reeves in the Bill of 1894, and that the question of registration be held over till conference meets in Wellington, on October 19th inst.”

Between August and October, 1908, Miners’ Unions all over N.Z. were circularised, with the result that when the conference assembled in Wellington on October 19, there were 11 Unions represented with a total membership of 4,259. Except for the non-attendance of Otago, it was a very representative gathering. The decisions of the Greymouth