BUILDING INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 660, 10 November 1909, Page 3

BUILDING INDUSTRY.

DEPUTATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER. , IMPOETANT MATTERS DISCUSSED.: - ■ A dnputation representing the New Zealand Federated Builders' Association was introduced '■to,tho■ Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), by Mr. J. F. Aruoid.M.P.i,yesterday. l> r : i : :-*' ' Mr. Clarke, president of:, tho association, stated influences.had been brought to bear to nullify the finding of the Timber Commission. Although the association-would have preferred more freedom of importation, it .would agrco to tho increases in duty.recommended..by. the commission,: because it did not wish to inflict any ; hardship on;the. millers'and! timber workers. -Ho went on to say: thnt..despite the.; fact that the commission had not found-that there had been any unduly high prices, .the ; tim- ; ber for big building was very expensive,owing; to there being so many the. timber output had doubled in ten years, it.:was unlikely that, the ..timber supply-would lasbas long as. was officially .-estimated,' viz.,- : 30 .to 1 .. 40: years. Twenty /years ■• would -probably ■ see the timber country along the Main Trunk worked: out. In view' of: the. seriousness- of-.tho'. position, h'e declared that reafforestation should.bp. carried on as expeditiously as possible. '■~;• ' Mr. W."H. Bennett pointed out tho position of builders under ;.the lien law. A'contractor and the employers ; had been held to be liable up to 25 per cent: of the whole contract moneys for wages. Tho ipositioij pressed: heavily on the builder. , - ■ ■ -"■■•.■.'■ '■'-■"■■■ ■ ■'■■•■•" "".'■■■'■: :: :.i"- ,; -. , Mr. Mcnli mentioned that the association desired an amendment .of. the" : law. to . enable builders to secure a" first claim upon any insurance they might effect to protect their interests: when carrying on, a;.work on a mortgaged proThe Prime Minister stated that.the' Government had not yet definitely concluded its investigations in connection with ..the\ Timber' Commission's report. To protect the .building interests was exceedingly difficult owing to the conflicting interests. Whilst endeavouring to protect an'industry it was also necessary to ensure that really high prices would not be. brought about by a combination of any kind. The Teport of the commission would have considerable influence upon the Government in arriving at its decision. It ..was important that there should be some system of replacement of the timber supplies. He would like the position regarding liens placed before him in writr ing. It was his intention to obtain an opinion from the Crown Xaw Office on the question of the insurance of the builder's interest against fire as against.the mortgagee or any-other in-, terest. , , ■- ■■:.■."■ ■'■■ ' ",-■;. ..'' i'■■•.■.--i-