TILERS’ DISPUTE DELAYS STATE BUILDING HERE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 69, 25 March 1949, Page 5

TILERS’ DISPUTE DELAYS STATE BUILDING HERE

Homeless people at Whaka--1 tane who have long been waiting for State houses are now - likely to wait very much longer, V' unless 1 there is an improvement in the industrial dispute at Auckland within the next few weeks. With the framework on five buildings completed furi ther progress on the houses is now being delayed because there are no tiles for the roofs. Until they do become available the contractor has decided to proceed erecting the framework of other houses in the same block. At present those ready for roofing consist of one two-bedroomed house, two four-bedroomed and two threefoedroomed houses. -

The hot point of the dispute in Auckland, which now' involves the tilers, has spread from that started by the carpenters. Tile manufacturers have insisted on their men fixing battens on houses. This has caused some argument as carpenters contend battening is part of their work and cannot, therefore, foe carried out by tilers. However, tilers have been doing it for some years but are now refusing to do so. This will necessarily affect . the work on houses at Whakatane that have to be roofed by tiles. Although there are ample tiles available at .Auckland, the manufacturers will not sell them unless they are fixed on the houses by their own tilers. State housing is the main Whakatane building activity that will be affected by the dispute. Meanwhile the contractor is proceeding with the framework of dwellings, so that completion of the whole block will not be delayed more than is necessary.

Should tiles come to hand within the next few days it is possible that about half a dozen houses will be ready for occupation all about the same time depending, of course, on the painters, electricians, plumbers and so forth.