WORK DECLARED "BLACK"

Chronicle (Levin), 26 July 1946, Page 5

WORK DECLARED "BLACK"

-Press Association

REPAIRS TO RACECOURSE

CARPENTERS SA>Y IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL.

By Telegraph—

AUCKLAND, July 24. Beeause the (Jarpent'er 's Union and the Labourers ' Union hold the viewj that repairs to the buildings on the Avondale Joekey Cllub's course are not] essential the work has been held up for .some weeks, aiul there is no indication when it will be eompleted. The unions j have received the support of tlie Auek-i land Trades ' Council and, unless a] settlement of tlie dispute can be reach- J ed soon, tlie Avondale Joekey Ciub is likely to be presented with extra problems if it holds Its spring meeting on its j own course in Keptember, as is intend-| ed. The Army occupied the course earlv in the war and was obliged 1o restore Ihe buildings when its period of occu'pation was iinished. A scheilule of costs was prepared, tlie Government sanetioned tlie expenditure, tlie contractj vvas let, and carpenters, labourers aud 1 painlers began work several weeks ago., Minister Approaehed. After they had been working for ( about two weeks the Carpenters' Union! and the Labourers' Union declared the i job "black" on Ihe grounds that it was] not essential, and Ihe men were called off. The unions also pointed out that a permit had not been obtained for the job, and an explanntion from the contractors tliat Ihe district building conIroller had stated tliat 110 peru'iit was necessary did not appear to alter the uniou's viewpoint. The eontractors plaeed the matter in the hands of tlie Auckland Maste.r Builders' Association, which forwarded it to the New Zealaml Masters Builders' Federation. Tlie latter organisation approaehed Ihe Minister of Works, Mr. Semple, and Ihe Federation of Labour for a settlement of the trouble, but no reply has yet been received from them. Type of Tlrnber. Altliough it was not necessary to do so the eontractors obtained a permit from tlie Citv Council and again approaehed tlie unions. O11 this occasiou the latter said tlie matter had been placed in tlie hands of1 the Auckland Trades Council, wtiieii has since maintained the attitude taken by the unions. I.ess than £500(1 is involved in the restoralion work, wlih-h includes j)ainling, repairs to floors, walis, windows, horse boxes and fences, and it has been stated tliat. the mixed timber which it was proposed to use was not suitable for housing. In addition, the contract called for the erection of a war purposes building which had been taken to tlie course in seetions to be used as an auxiliary totalisator. Tt was not proposed to alter the existing buildings. About two weeks' work is still required on the repairs, and if the dispute witli the unions could be settled "ihe contract oi:s wouhl be ready to continue. Painters, who were also takou off the job when tlie unions intervened, liave since returned. 1

Restricted Facilities. The Avondale Joekey Club has not raced 011 its own course since Heptem- 1 ber, 1941, but conducted its wartime programme at Ellerslie. I11 view of the1 criticism that has been directed at the] facilities at Eden Park, the Ellerslie racecourse and other sports areas, considerable interest is being taken in. those. at Avondale. Follovvers of t.lie spor.t -hay'e pointed out that, Tipi' two j day^J % .^epteniberp 4941, the ] t^qlivlisator handled '£1113,13(5, i (Ci^hpa'red- wit'h £125, $42 for seven- races] wlien the Avondale club hold its meet-j ing a: Ellerslie last Sal urday. Many are now questioning wliether the increased business can be comforlably handled if the club returns to its own course in September. The stand accommodation lias also been a matter for criticism ainong racing enthusiasls, many of whom claim that it does not meet modern require-' merita and would need to be doulrled I before it would do so.