PAINTERS AND DECORATORS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 10

PAINTERS AND DECORATORS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE,

THIRD DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

The annual conference of the NewZealand Federation of Master Painters', Decorators', and Signwriters' Associations of Employers resumed yesterday morning under the chainnariship of Mr ~L*o, president.

Pension Scheme.

A paper on the question of a pension scheme for workers, written by Mr James Morrison, president of tho Gi&borne Master Painters' Guild, was read.

The president asked Mr P. Ovendeu, the Gisborne delegate, to convey tho thanks of tho conference to the Writer of the paper, and to inform him that some of the ideas expressed in the paper "had impressed delegates who would boar them in mind.

Dominion Award.

• Conference received a deputation from the just coneluued annual conference of the Painters' Unions of the 'Dominion, -consisting of Messrs \V. Cooper, president of the conference and of tne i: ederution, F.. Cornweil, secretary of the conference and Federation., 1). Golder, Napier Painters' Union, J. *Pierson, president, and G. T. Owen, secretaiy of the Christchurch Painters' Union.

Mr Cooper said that a Dominion award was the principal matter for consideration, and their. Federation had discussed it for some time. He understood that the legal difficulties in the way of obtaining .a Dominion award had •been largely removed. They desired a joint representative conference to settle matters. . .

Mr Golder remarked that if a Dominion award were, • obtained it would be a means of inducing all the employers in tho Dominion to link up with the Master Painters' Federation. It was desired to deal with the trade from a scientifio point of view. _ . Mr Pierson said he believed, that this would be a red letter day in the history of both Federations: a few years ago such an exchange of views would not' have been thought of, but he thought iW would be in the best interests of "both ■"Federations. • They wanted a higller standard of painting and the inferior worker eliminated.

. Mr Cornwall.said.that they desired to know if the Masters' Federation were in favour of a Dominion award, if the Masters' Federation was' registered, and if they, were'in favour of a joint confer-, ence to discuss the details of 'the proposed Dominion award. If the Masters' federation was registered then the one. Federation could cite the other; but if the Masters' Federation was not registered, they could not get a Dominion award. He asked if the Fed»eration covered the whole. Dominion. ;' Mr Lee said that' the Masters' Federation was perfectly willing to meet the representatives of the Operative's Federation to formulate a Dominion award. The registration of the' Federation was almost completed; He suggested that a central place should be decided on as the piace of the proposed joint conference. ' ' - i Mr W. Nicol said that the consensus of opinion amongst the master painters was that they wanted to do the best they could to elevate the trade, in the interests of the men and of themselves: the masters U"<* no selfish interest inthe matter —their chief concern was to build up the trade. They were not opposed to the mon—the old spirit of selfishness and division, he believed, was almost wiped out. They might differ in the methods to he employed in improving the trade, but that need not involve opposition. While they had men like Mr Cornwall with'a spirit.of conciliation and give and take, he did not think that there was any need for differences between masters and men. As to masters being responsible for employing inferior men, he pointed out ■that they only did so when +hey could not get efficient workers. * Mr Brinsden said that the masters werq doing their best to improve conditions under which the operatives did their work,' the stop* taken in respect of.'the' abolition of swim and of the use of lead. Matters of detail were then discussed as to the procedure to be adopted in connexion with the proposed conference. Mr Cooper thanked the Masters' Federation for the manner in which they had received the deputation. He believed that the whole, matter cduld be arranged at a found-table conference, and without recourse to the Conciliation Council or the Court of Arbitration.. He wa'3 a strong supporter of their difficulties being settled by themselves without calling in outsiders. KApplause.) . ' Mr Lee remarked that if the parties' met as men to ,nien they would do better than by calling in third parties. The deputation withdrew.

Mr stated that steps would be taken to give effect to the proposals for a joint conference; each centre would be advised regarding the progress of arrangements.

* Auckland Conciliation Council;

On the motion of Mr W. "Wheaton, seconded by Mr JF. Standridge, it was decided: "That this Conference expresses its indignation at the action of the Conciliation Commissioner in compelling a painter to retire in favour of a buudera' representative in the last dispute in Auckland." It was explained that when the Conciliation Commissioner vr&;s informed of the approximate number of painters employed by builderß, ho considered that it was only fair that the builders should be represented on the Council; consequently a builder's assessor was 'substituted for a master painter's assessor.

Painters' Bookkeeping. By invitation, Mr Oscar W. B. An>

dorson rend a paper on bookkeeping as applied to the painting trade. He \v«v; accorded a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation.

Builders and Painters.

On the motion of Mr W. ttott, see. onded l>v Mr W. A.M'olson, it was decided, after discussion: "That it be an instruction from this Conference to nil affiliated master painters' Association.; to agitcfte for contractors and sub-con-tractors to confine their operations to their own special trade'. That the Allied Trades'. Associations throughout the Dominion be asked to frame bv-laws prohibiting other than master painters executing, their recognised work as contained in the architects' 'specifications.''

Registration of the Xederation.

The president said thnt tho point had been mentioned to him that unless tho Federation was registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act there might he difficulty in obtaining a Dominion award. It wna decided that it be left to the. discretion of tho executive as to what Act tho Federation should bo registered under. . •*

Election of Officers.

The following officers wore elected for tho ensuing year: president, Mr David Lee (re-elected); vtctHpresidentj, Messrs W. A. Pohon, and T. M Collins: secretary, Mr J. B. Chetwm; treasurer, Mr E. J. Bell; executive, Messrs G. Sey, J. A. Lummis, J. W. Bowden, and F. H. C. Hobden; auditor, Mr J. McNainara. " Tho executive was recommended to appoint Mr p. Soy as honorary assist-ant-secretary. < # The Wellington Association was empowered to set up a- Parliamentary Committee.. ' In concluding the proceedings, the president thanked delegates fortlto assistance rendered bv them during tho Conference. Ho also expreasedtbo thanks of the Conferenco to tlie Press for tho careful and good reports of the proceedings. ■ A heiirtv vote of thanks was accorded the Entertainment Committee,..

Smoking Concert. In tho Oadena Cafe* last night tic delegates to the Conference wore the . guests of the Christchurch Master Painters' Association at a smoking concert. Mr D. Lee, tho president of tho Federation, and amongst those* present, in addition to tho delegates, were the Mayor (Dr...H. T. J. Thacker, M.P.), the Town Clerk (Mr H. R. Smith), and representatives of allied trades. Toasts honoured were: "The King" (proposed by the chairman); "Mayor and City Fathers'' (proposed by Mr J. Wren, Dunedin,. and responded to by the Mayor and by Mr W. T. Lester, Mayor of Lyttelton); "The New Zealand Federation of Master Painters" (proposed bj to W. Nicol, and responded to by .Mr D. Leek "Allied, Trades'.', (proposed.by Mr G. Sey; and retsoonded to by Mr W. H. Winsor and ; others); "Workers' Union", (proposed by Mr E. J. BeU, and responded to by Messrs P. Cornwell and J. Pierson); "Visitina Delegates' ' J'propbsed by Mr W. A. Poison, and responded to by Messrs F,. Brinsden; G. Gapes, J. Wren, and G. S. Dean); "The Performers" (proposed by Mr J. Bowden), and 'the Press" (proposed by Mr T. Collins). > , During the evening vocalj instrumental, and other itemß were given by Messrs F. Brinsden, Grayihar, A. Akins, V. Drake; A. Owen, J; McNamara, J. Temple,* Greonwood,. Ghv ger, Messrs Joll end party, and Mr Oswald and a party of* instrumentalists; the accompanimente for tho vocalists were played by Mr Nathan.