BUILDING TRADE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 47, 19 November 1919, Page 5

BUILDING TRADE

THREE YEARS REVIEWED FEDERATED BUILDERS CONFER Tho New Zealand Federated Builders niul Contractors' Association opened its annual conference in tho Employers Rooms in Customhouse Quay yesterday morning. In the absence, of the president, the vice-presidents (Mr. J. H. Maynnrd and Mr. W. L. Thompson), Mr. | W. H. Dennett was voted to the chair. Mr. Mainland (president of the local association) welcomed the delegates to Mr. 1 '! , ! S. AVeston (president of tie Employers' Federation) addressed the conference on industrial matters. War-time Business. A report for tho three years ended Ocr tober 31, !!)!!), was presented. It contained the following passages:— "The cessation of importation of material and the shortage of workers brought about by the war placed a number of contractors in an unenviable position with respect to the carrying out of their contracts within the contracted time. Representations were made 'by your executive to the Government, which was asked to pass legislation that would give some reasonable relief to contractors. It was no doubt gratifying to members of affiliated bodies to find that provision was made in the War Legislation Act for giving power to a Jud?o of tho Supreme Court to make an order suspending or annulling a contract or extending the time for its completion. ■ "During- the period of the war employers were lotli to let out contracts owing to tho regularly increasing prices of material and labour. ' Since the armistice was declared there has. been a marked change in tho volume of work offering, it bein? apparent that property owners havo been waiting for a return to peace before committing 'themselves to extensive- improvements. Now many are anxious for the carrying out of immediate extensions to their premises or the erection of additional buildings and this has brought about an abnormal demand for nil classes of artisans. In addition, there is proving to bo a great ehortago of dwellinßhoiißcs in a number of centres, which it is belioved is accentuated bv tho cnll for houses made by returned soldiers who have either brought wives with them from the Old World or havo married 6ince their return. Employees' Claims. "At the present time a number of centres are 'being cited to answer 'he claims of the workers for n reduction of tnn weekly limit of hour e of work to 40 and no work on Saturdays, and for wages at 2s 6d. ner hour.. Your cxecntUe 19 very definitely of tho oninion Hint neither of these concessions should bo granted, ami that tho niiMtion of increased pay and further alterations in conditions should bp left to the Arbitration Court, it Wing felt that; tho wages and conditions having been exhaustively denlf with by the parties in numerous'conferences, and reason-1 ablo concessions having been given from time to time, the disrmte had better in future be Fettled, by tho Court. "Owing to the large number of journeymen who went on active service and the 'limited number of nppi'Niriivs who in recent Tears have been learning the trade, it is found thorn are not enouirh men to meet the ronuirements of the trade, and it is very desirable that confcrenco consider vhat will be the best means of remedying the shortnge. Afforestation. ■ "The Auckland master builders, led by Mr. Samuel I. Clarke, are. always foremost in urging and assisting in imitation for a more vigorous policy of afforestation ■being a< , —ted >!>y tho Government. Early in Iff?", a letter on the subject, carefully prepared by, Auckland, was forwarded to the Prime Minister. The letter pointed out tho urgent need for more spirited action being fen by lie Government, and strondy supported the , "ivimj of immediate effect to Mr. M>sfey's'proposal that State forestry should be dealt with by the Government on a more exfpnsivo scale. Tho suggestion was submitted to the Government that a board of forestry commissioners should bft at once appointed to advise nnd assist tho Government in the work of afforestation. The name of Mr. Clarke was submitted for selection as a ineml>er of any commission appointed, it being generally recognised that Mr. Clarke, being a practical builder and for many years a close student of timbers and afforestation, he would be able to render valuable assistance as a commissioner. Up to the. present no commission has been appointed, ibut it is gratifying to know that a Department of forestry has been established by the Government, and that Sir Francis Bell, a. Minister who is deeply interested in the subject, has been placed in charge of the new Denartment. The ronirratulations of this federation were forwarded to Sir Francis Bell upon his appointment. Timber Supplies. "Tho continual raising of tho prices of timbers and tho regular export of Inrge quantities of timber to Australia lea to action being taken by your executive to brim,' theao facts prominently under tho notice of the Government. Tho reply received to the reprssentations made was that tho whole matter was being referred to the Board .of Trade, which was empowered to deal with the question of prices. Tour executivo then interviewed th» Board of Trado, which stated its intention to visit the important Dominion centres and take the evidence of all persons interested who might choose to come before it. It transpired that it was tho intention of the board to ret up a timber advisory committee to act in conjunction with the board, and your executive promptly asked fo;- the appointment or two representatives of the master builders on thnt committee, naming Messrs. S I Clarke and W. IT. Bennett ae the nominees of this federation. Representative', sawmillers and timber merchants wero appointed to the committee, and several meetings were held, but the interests of the members were so divergent that your representatives found it neeeefiary to put in a minority report to the board on each occasion. The only result to date of the work of the committee and tho board is that it has been agreed bv the Dominion Federated Rawmillers Association with tho Board of Trade that the nrice of timber ruling at November 1 1918. will not be increased by sawmil - e'rs without the consent of the board, and Hint restrictions as to export of va 1 ?" OUR timbers should be enforced. Jt is understood that special discounts, which varv in tho several districts, may be allowed to timber merchants. Efforts were made to arrive at standard prices to be charred bv timber merchants throughout the Dominion, but. this was found impossible owinii to differences in cost of delivery to the merchants. .