FEDERATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 654, 3 November 1909, Page 5

FEDERATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS.

~'; >. THE ANNUAL MEETING..;. „■■:■■■: .(By. Tdcßraph-Prese -Association.)'. ; . : X ' Christchurch, November 2. ' The animal meeting of tjie Federated Builders, and Contractors of New Zealand was commenced this morning. Present: Messrs. Andrew Bain (chairman), S. J. Clarke (Auckland), A. Grayson (Auckland), W. S. Black (Gisborne), W. Ward (Hawke's Bay), J. Stanley (Hawko's ,Bay), W. Mouli (Wanganui), A. Burton (Wahganui), W. H. Bennett (Wellington), I). M'Lean (Wellington),'L. H. Humphries (Wellington), H, Pe%rco (Canterbury), P. Graham (Canterbury),:' J." . Noorb (Canterbury), 10. Preen (South; Canterbury), P. Foster (South Canterbury), J. : MlCinnon . (Dunediu), C. Thompson (Diinedin), L. Lindsay (Dunedin), John Walker (Southland), and J. C. Ilowib (Southland).. : ... vV /, . :. ■ (The Mayor of Christchurch welcomed the delegates of. the federation , to Christchurch. He eulogised -the. work done by the federation. iu improving the. conditions of building and in putting down any attempts at injustice by • architects and; by builders, and in bettering the state of things in regard io building generally. ■■: •. ■ ..■ . ■. ■ ■■■.-.."! The chairman said'that ho wished to assure the publio that the conference between the builders was.not for the purpose of fleecing, the. public. The federation was not an aggressive body.unless,it was tramped on.very.hard. The conference-was only for the betterment of the trade and therefore for the. benefit of the public:' ' .'■; ■;■ ; ' .;■'. .'■....■■.' ~.....-'

The tenth annual report stated that no question of .great or-general interest, to the trade had been considered , during the. year. Builders and contractors had been amongst the first tradesmen to feel and suffer from - the stringency in the money market, and the subsequent cessation, of .building operations in a' number of centres of population. Indications were not wanting, however, to show that the depreosion would soon pass-away, and . that the natural wealth und productivity of the Dominion would re-establish, prosperity, and progress. Mr. S.- J. .Clark had represented the federation oa the Timber Commission and Institute of Architects, and Wellington architects had, given evidence in favour of Oregon timber, for cer-. tain specified, purposes, and in favour of its free importation. Tho proposed alteration of the general conditions of contract would be considered by the meeting;'' Tho Minister for Labour had'been approached, and asked to have various- branches of' tho building: trade . declared related by the Governor-in-Council, but the Minister had replied that he could ■ not comply wtih tho .request.' It was suggested that the better -course for employers was to apply to the Arbitration Court. .• The Wellington Association had been working in the. direction of securing, uniformity .of awards, and latterly had been assisted by the workers' unions. Tho amendments to-the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. had materially > altered' the procedure in connection with industrial and breach- of award cases. Somo confusion ' hadbeen caused :by varying decisions of 'magistrates in interpretations of awards, and it was considered that more' satisfactory and' definite judgments oii.doubtflul points would be obtained'if'cases were heard by tho Arbitration Court. ■■'.■. . -■■-■■•■.

The report was adopted. ■.. ... Mr. Bennett reported upon' the proceedings of the Australian Builders Convention. He did not consider that the Wages Boards ; in Australia were as good as'the Conciliation Council in New..Zealand. The Wages Board consisted of"an- equal .number of representatives from cither side, who, elected a chairman. Tho chairman had a ■ casting vote, and ' therefore controlled tho points "in dispute. In New Zealand the chairman was appointed -by'.the/Government; and did not have any voting power. He spoke in favour of the proposal at thecon-: vention that builders should, establish an insurance company to carry, the.insurances of new buildings. The company would not.'bo formed to cut rates, but merely because it'was thought that there would bo sufficient business, and because statistics showed that-tho number .of firea in now buildings was very small. Hβ also favoured registration ' of builders, , "and" the scheme of sealed ■ list of quantities at present in force in New- South Wales with considerable benefit to'the trade:' "'.. )i'-k;',-.;.: '■'.;.■ ■ .. ' ■ : The ' report was received '■ and a vote of thanks'to*''Mr. Bennett:carried.: . '...'.• ' A.'draft; agreement for sub-contractors' was considered, aud after a- short discussion was agre'ed'-to wtih/ certain amendments! ,■■'■'..■