PAINTERS AND DECORATORS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17107, 31 March 1921, Page 9

PAINTERS AND DECORATORS.

annual conference.

SECONi) DAY'S FKOCZF.DTNttS,

Tho nnnnal conference of the NewZealand Federation of -Master l , "' nU ' rs • Decorators', and Sign - .*i :.ei» - s>o "' l ' tion resumed yesterday u'nlcr -l.e Chairmanship of Mr I>. J<ee, present.

Working Rules.

Mr T M Collins (Christehureh) «mbmi'tfcd a'remit dealing with wnrk.ng rules, and said that in endeavouring to frame such rules he had louud himself „p against ft difficnlt Pathological problem; imt they all recognised the necessity for removing conditions that led to mutual distrust, and replacing thorn by conditions that v.ouid lead to , confidence and harmony. The present forking rules were 25 yenri old, and had served their purpose. Jrt England) provision had bcuii made for consuitntion between employers and employee:;; and it was plain that they could not allow the agitator to have his own way. Working conditions at present were good, bus the professional agitators, m order to retain their position and fomented-trouble. Ho movi.-d: "That, in tho interests of our industry, a )oinu conference of employers and employees should bis held. That they discims tho question of making a set of Dominion working rules. That it be a recommendation to t'ho joint conference to establish a National Alliance of Employers and Employees. 1 hat tnc Alunnce provides a constitution for Central Industrial Governing Hoards-to administer each tindustrial district with Area. Boards to control localities." Mr W. IS'icol seconded the motion., and spoke in favour of encouraging a spirit of conciliation. Tho men. ho said, had a rifcht to bo considered: they were human, as were Uhc employers, and should be treated as men. A friendly conference nnght lead to the rectification'of any wrongs tho men liad, and tho employers might be üblo to uhow the men in what directions tlicy wore

wrong. , Mr W. A. Pol.<on (Ohristr hiych) said tlmfc Mr Collins had prepared a of eight rules-which the had introduced into his shop and had found to work admirably. The only way to deal " wifli tlio Red Fed agitator was by lirm- , licss and frankness. Mr R. 8. Griffiths (Timaru) said ho thought the mover had overdrawn the dangers from the professional agitator; 'ho did not exist in Timaru. Several members: Ho is here, though • Mr"Griffith.s said that as long as tho Arbitration Court attempted to malw all men equal they would have a feeling of revulsion on tho part of the employees. Mr J. D. Chetwin (Christchurdh) supported the motion. ,«.■ Mr F. Brinsden (Auckland) said ho 'thought the question wa» one hinging on supply arid demand: if there was plenty of work, rules would not help '.matters. They were anxiow to do the . right .thing by their men. If there were no agitators in Timaru they could spare a few from Auckland. (Laughter.) ,Mr Nicol said that when agitators •were inferred to it was not meant that : they wre in the Painters' Union. Mr W.. Whenton (Anckland) referred ' to an association existing amongst the plumbers in Auckland which effected much good by,giving masters and men an opportunity to meet socially and otherwise. / Mr H. Gapes (Wellington) spoke in support of the proposal. i Mr Collins said, with regard to the rules dio'had drawn up, thaji lie..found f ' tliat no advance copula be maijb traieaw . they had'a. conference with representatives* of the workers to ratify them/ Copies of the rules were produced, and some of the details wore discussed. Mr'W. Bott (Wanganui) said he thought they should affirm the prin« eiple and leave the local associations to _ frame rule# to suit their own. condi- " tions. Tho motion was agreed to, and the resolution was_ referred to the incoming executive to give effect to it.

Registration of the Association. ' The president submitted rules of the Association in view of the proposal that, it should be a registered society. It. was agreed, to recommend the birdies comprising the federation to ndopfc ."Asspciation" as the title of each body,. It was also decided that tbe annual convention should be hold in tho month of February. • _ The'rules were agreed td: specifications. 1 •. . The standard specifications, whictv under consideration for some time past* were considered seriatim. After lengthy discussion the specifica- - tiong were adopted, with amendments; Add a vote of thanks was accorded Mr ■ Collins, who drafted them. It was that the standard specifications v would )be of great assistance to young •architects, and to students at technical i-' colleges. • Dorinlon Price List. •• Mr, I*. Standridge (Wellington) subv mitted proposals tor a schedule price r li«t for the whole Dominion, or, in the t Alternative, a puce list for the North 'lsland and cno for tho South Is- . • Mud. It would be, of assistance to i ; ,those who were beginning in business . in tendering for certain work; it would be also useful as a protection to all en* ■ gaged in the trade. • ' The opinion was expressed that each v contre should prepare a price list for its own district. - It was moved: "That each association

should forward a price list to the incoming executive." As an amendment, it was moved: "That :i price list be made out applicable to the whole Dominion." The amendment waa agieed to.

XJiuform Rule?,

On the motion of Mr Gapes (Wellington). .seconded by Mr Urinsdon (Auckland). it was derided: "That it be an instruction to the incoming executive to draw no a set of rules and by-laws for the affiliated associations."

Workmen'/ Insurance,

Mr \Y. A. Poison (Cliristehureh) submitted a remit on the subject of workmen's accident insuranef-, and said that rates had been raised from 12s Gd per £IOO to 20s per £IOO, and were now o.'s per £100; ho contended that the rateswere excessive. Five firms in Christehureli in two years had paid premiums and had claims paid as_follows: —Premium paid £IOO, no claims: £4O paid, no claims; £36 paid, £5 12s Gd paid in settlement of claims; £53 paid, £5 received for claims; £BO paid, £l2 received for claims. Tho builders in Christchurcli. in two years, had paid in premiums £ISOO, antl had received in claims £B9o_._ Mr W. Nicol suggested that this state of tilings should be brought under the notice of the Government. Tt was stated that the Government office charged the same rates as the conmanies. 3 Mr J. Wren (Dunedin) suggested that tho building and allied trades should undertake their own insurance. Mr E. J. Bell (Christchiircli) said that this would involve the depositing of a large amount of actual cash. On his motion, it was decided that tho Federation and each affiliated Association should write to tho Government Actuary for information as to the amount of premiums and claims paid; als,) that each Association should endeavour, to get allied trades in their district to do similarly.

Tariff Reform. Mr J. "Wren (Dunedin) introduced {ho question of the tariff, and -said that he had been in Sydney recently, and as tho result of tho high protective tariff .a number of industries were making wonderful strides. As regards the present tariff in :Xew Zealand, as it affected painters, ho thought it treated them very well; possibly the only way that they wero not treated well was in respect of tho duty of 25 per cent, on brushware. Mr Collin-; said that in tho North Island a certain firm, which .intended to specialise in tho manufacture of paint, proposed to appear _ lteforo the Tariff Commission, armed with as much authority as possible, to try to get the duty increased on mixed paints and varnishes, so that it would be almost prohibitive to import them, as was tho case in Australia. He quoted with approval, remarks made by * Professor C'ondliffo in. hi* recent address before tho Chamber of Commerce, in respect to a hi'eh protective tariff. Mr Nieol referred to some anomalies in the tariff in respect to painters' materials, pointing out that instead of ;v uniform duty on oil varnishes. the duty on tho cheaper kinds should ( be decreased. Referring to Mr remarks, he said that "some of the paints manufactured by the .firm indicated were really first-class. On the motion of Mr H. Gapes, sec- ! ohded bv Mr Collins, it was agreed: 1 "That tfiis Federation affirm the present tariff on trade requisites; that any alteration in tho direction of increasing the tariff would operate against thoto least able to afford it, namely, worker? building or maintaining their homes; and that a deputation from the Chrintchurch Association wait on the Tariff Commission and point out . to them on what materials the duty should ho increased or decreased, or left as at present."

... Prohibition.of Scrim. Mr A. Lovatt (Anckland) brought up the question of the abolition of scrim, and said that, as they all knew, scrim when it had been up some time became' contaminated with dußt and disease, and tradesmen who had to handle it ran the risk of contracting disease. He referred to, and submitted a sample of, a substitute for scrim, of British manufacture. . The president said that they were not much interested in scrim in Christchurch. Ho suggested that local associations should bring the matter before the local bodies with the object of getting bv-laws passed on the subject. • Mr R. S. Griffiths (Timaru) urged that it was a matter for the Health Department. Mr F. Brunsden (Auckland) strongly aupnorted this view, arid said that in [ tho'poorer jjarts of Auckland there were old cottages in which the scrim had been on the walls for many years; children slerit in these rooms and hung their clothes against the walls. He was confident that by this means disease was carried to tne schools. Mr E. J. Bell (Christchurch) moved: "That this matter he referred to the incoming executive to communicate, with the Health Department, and ask that the use of scrim be abolished as soon as possible on anything but temporary structures; and that the oflly substitute that cao. be suggested is lath and plaster.'* i. The motion was agreed to.

Competent Workmen.

Mr Brunsden brought up tho subject of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act being amended to provide that members of unions should be competent workmen. He cited instances which had occurred in Auckland,- where, when an employer asked the union to supply ft workman, an inefficient man was sent along whose incompetency was not discovered, in somo instances, till work was spoiled. Mr Bell said that he understood that there was a proposal that all painters, employers and employees, should be registered, so that the Health Department would have some control over those entrusted with the work* of Interior decorators and renovators. Jie believed that along these lines they would 1)0 able to secure what was suggested in the remit. _ . On tho motion of Mr H. Gapes, it was decided: "That this matter be loft to the executive to deal with at tho samo time that they arc dealing with the remit dealing with working rules.

Supervision of Old Work

Mr J. Speirs (Palmerston North) moved: ''That this Conference rs ot opinion that old work should bo done under tho supervision of tho Health Inspector." Tho mover said that in tho smaller centres this was most n&Dean (Wancanui) cited an instance where the Health Inspector failed to take action in respect of promises that were in a bad condition. jXr "\V. Nicol said that in such cases tho Health Departmont should be comiuunicated with direct. In further discussion the point was raised that if tho remit were agreed to the Confercneo would be going past citv and borough councils. The question was also raised in annexion with the powers of tho Health Department regarding condemning insanitary buildm The remit was not agreed to, and Mr Nicol was asked to nvake certam enquiries in Wellington, and to report the result to the executive.

Next Year's Convention,

On the motion of r p a P, es ' 5? c 0 + n< ?tl bv Mr Nic-01, it was decided that tho executive of the Federation remain in Christchurch for the ensuing yoar, and that the invitation of Wanganui to hold next year's convention m that town be accepted. Tlio Conference, in appreciation <>t the services of the secretary of tho Federation, Mr J- 33- Clietwin, during the past year, voted him the sum or £25, and a bonus of £lO. Conference adjourned till a.m. to-morrow. To-day tho delegates w»U

.be taken a motor drive to Ashley Gorge; and in tho evening they will attend a theatre party at the Opera House. •