THE BUILDING TRADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2876, 14 September 1916, Page 8

THE BUILDING TRADE

EMPLOYERS' AiVA'UAL MEETING. The annual mooting of tiic Wellington Builders and Contractors' Industrial Union of Employers was held on Tuesday evening and' was well attended. Tho annual report, which was adopted, stated that many members of tlio union had friends or relatives at the front. Among active members who were serving with tho Forces were Messrs. A. Seamor, E. Clark, and Sanders. "The war," the report continues, "is having 6erious effects upon the prices of materials, which have increased beyond conception; .importations aro restricted, many classes of goods are unprocurable, tlio cost of labour has materially increased, the ranks of workers have been heavily depleted through volunteering, bringing about a consequent lowering of the standard of work performed; owners and investors aro not disposed to enlarge business premises, and capital is ■ tight-hold by those who have it. The shortage of workers has led to some little trouble to employers through the claims and efforts of workers to secure payment of -higher wages. "Unions of workers are still taking full advantage of the provisions of the Arbitration Act to initiate so-called trade disputes in the hope of securing some further advantage from the employers through; Court proceedings." Owing to tlio disturbing eifects of tho war, no Master Builders' Conference was hold in 1914, but it was generally realised that it would be unwise to allow another year to pass without calling the centres together. It was thcreforo decided that n purely business meeting should be held in WelThis was done. Many matters of interest to tho trade wero considered by conference, the most important being the proposal of the president that an organiser and adviser for the federation he appointed. The election of officers resultd as follows :—President, Mr. H. Mainland (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. J. C. Brown (re-elected); treasurer, Mr. A. Johnston (re-elected); committee Messrs. A. M. Wilson and W. H. Bennett (re-elected) and Mr. A. Trevor; auditors,. Messrs. Clark and W. Parkin (re-elected); secretary, Mr. W. Grenfcll (re-elected). ..