THE BUILDING TRADE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 6

THE BUILDING TRADE

CONTRACTORS IN CONFERENCE

ANNUAL GATHERING IN . WELLINGTON The annual meeting of the New Zealand Federated Builders' and Contractors' Association as opened in Wellington yesterday. Tho following officers ..and delegates were present:— President, Mr. N. Meuli; vice-presi-dent, Mr. J. H. Maynard; executive committee,' Messrs. W. H. Bennett, W. L. Thompson, A. M. Svilson, H. Mainland; treasurer, Mr. P. C. Watt; secretary, Mr. W. A. Grenfell; representatives, Messrs. G. Baildon and W. Ball (Auckland), J. K. Maynard and W. H. Winson (Canterbury); J. D. Hamilton and J. Knox (Duuedin), H. W. Campbell (Hawke's Bay), F. Needham (Manawatu), M. Frain (Southland), E. Walpole (Wanganui),. H. Mianland, W. L. Thompson, and A. M. Wilson (Gisborno). Tho delegates were welcomed by the president of tho Federation and by the president of tho Wellington Builders and Contractors' Association (Mr. H. Mainland). Annual Report; The annual report of the Fodoration referred to variouß matters of interest to; members. The committee recognised that the time of Ministers and Departments was fully occupied in directing the abnormal business of tho State, in consequence of the war, and had therefore deemed it advisable and fair to withhold making representations to tho Government on a number of questions that it was desired should receive consideration. Amongst these questions were: (a) The duty on foreign .timber; (b) the differential railway rates on imported timben; (c) amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and "Arbitration Act to better ensure that all employers of labour are bound by trade awards; (d)- Amendment of tlie Arbitration Act so as to provide that when arbitrators were unable to agreo upon an umpire it should bo the duty of a local Magistrate having jurisdiction in the district in which the dispute had arisen to name an umpire. These matters would be dealt with by the executive so soon as circumstances wero favourable for the making of representations. Labour Matters. "The New Zealand Executive Board •of the Amalgamated Society' of Carpenters and Joiners," added the report, "approached your executive with a request that a conference be held: in Christchnroh for the purpose of considering terms for a. new Dominion carpenters' award. ' After consulting the centres, your executive replied that as the awards do not.expire until December 1(3, and as the master builders will meet in conference before that date, it has been decided .that deleates should not bo appointed to confer with the Amalgamated Society. The Wellington District Council of the same Amalgamated Society also proffered a request that tho master • builders should meet it in-conference 'with a view of giving effect to the pronouncement of the Arbitration- Court- re granting a war bonus to all employees. 1 This request arose, no doubt, from a misunderstanding of the true intent and meaning. of the statement of the Arbitration Court made in.Tv'ariganui, when announcing its decision. in the Auckland labourers' dispute... As other ■unions havo either-deliberately .or iri error placed a wrong interpretation /upon 1 tho Court's judgment, it is- advisable master builders should: - learn tho true intent and' extent of • the Court's pronouncement. This will be readily gathered from the following extracts from tho Court's memorandum :—

" 'Without" committing .itself _ to any definite opinion on the subject, as the circumstances of each particular Jindustry and the effects of tie war upon it, prejudicial or beneficial, as the case may be, must necessarily bo a determining factor in tho matter, the Court suggests that employers generally might •well consider whether workers in their employ should not bo granted a war bonus on the same lines', as that contained in this award (10 per cent, bonus upon the minimum wage).' It appears-to the Court that in order to provide workers under present conditions with a reasonable living- wage they shoukt be paid at least Is. 3d. per hour in the case of hourly -wages, and at least £2 12s. per week in the case of weekly servants." ''■,■<' "Your executive's rej>ly to the Wellington District Council was to 1 the effect that after full consideration of all phases of the matter the executive regretted it. could not recommend the trade to pay a war bbnns. It was pointed out that at the time the last

increase was Riven to the carpenters ife was considered by employers that the fixing of wages at Is. Gd. per hour would prove \a settlement of the wages question for/some years. The executive ■expressed the opinion that trades unions were apparently reading into the. pronouncement of the Arbitration Court much more than was intended by, tho Court, and the Amalgamated Society; was reminded that the Court, in making its statement respecting a war bonus was dealing primarily with the wages of labourers and tho lower-grade workers, not those of the general bodj of workers." Other Business. ( The report was adopted. Tho conference went into committeft to consider a large number of remits of interest to members of the federation.* A paper on the.subject of apprentice-' ship and technical education was react by Mr. W. H. Bennett. Another paper, read on behalf of Mr. S. L Clark, of Auckland, dealt with afforestation. The conference sat during the afternoon arid evening, and adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day. It was stated that in consequence of the parade of tho Nineteenth Reinforcements the proposal to Hold a bowling match between delegates and local builders had been abandoned.