MASTER PLUMBERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 129, 29 February 1928, Page 9

MASTER PLUMBERS

DOMINION CONFERENCE ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT The annual conference of the New Zealand Federation oi Master Plumbers opened at the Employers' Federation rooms yesterday, wnen the president. .(.Mr. U. \V. Key), of Wellington, presided over an attendance of twenty delegates representing all parts of the Dominion. The conference was opened on behalf of the Mayor by Councillor M. F. Duckie, who extended ti welcome to the delegates, and hoped that they would have a pleasant and profitable time during their slay in the city. The annual report stated that the instiuction given from last conference had been carried out to the extent that a meeting representative of ’he federation the Federation of .Master Painters, the Electrical Federation, and the M ellington Engineers’ and Iron and Brassfounders’ Association was held in November last ami unanimously supported the resolution carried at the Auckland conference to the effect that an amendment of the Lien Act should be sought making it mandatory as a condition of contract that the provisions of the Act must apply and be attached to each contract entered into between the employer or owner, contractor, and sub-contractor. The next step was to interview the Minister of Labour. The replies received from Canterbury, Wellington, and Invercargill Unions were to the effect that the probable number of apprentices likely to take advantage of such classes did not warrant the expense which would be incurred and this caused the executive to take no further action in the mailer. The proposed wholesale amendment of the I.C. and A. Act, with the possible abolition of the Arbitration Court as now constituted, was considered as too drastic a change by lhe executive, and it was agreed that in the absence of a better method for handling industrial disputes there was no option but to hold on to the present system, and the N.Z. Employers’ Federation was advised accordingly. Tho executive endorsed the resolution passed at the annual meeting of the N.Z. Employers’ Federation, “That the technical training of apprentices in the employers’ time is wrong in principle and impracticable of application in many cases.” fn moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the president said that it was with pleasure that he could refer to the work which had been done by the executive and by the local unions regaining the Apprentices Act. With regard to the question of accident insurance, he considered that tins was a matter more for the local unions than lor the federation. He regretted that the proposal to start correspondence classes had not been brought to a point of success, but realised that without a sufficiency of pupils to form such classes the expense that would be incurred in preparing the course of instruction and in conducting the classes would not be justified. The replies which had been received from unions had left the executive without option in the matterand he suggested that delegates should review tho situation in the light of what had been ascertained He, with others, at Invercargill, had hopes that the federation was on the threshold of a most helpful innovation, but. apparently they tlicu had not a full appreciation of the true position, and had magnified the number of young people who were not. able to attend technical schools to receive personal instruction in the theory and pi* I ice of plumbing. The desire for closer co-operation by master plumbers was becoming more and more evident, and with the smaller centres linking up the value of the federation would be increased to all. "On the question of trade outlook," concluded the president, "I caution master plumbers, and earnestly recommend them to consolidate their position in business, in every way possible. Competition is very keen, trade generally has to act very carefully in maintaining output at the very lowest possible cost, and diminution of profit; capital requiresreareful protection, yet must be kept earning sufficient to justify its employment; and till this needs the watchful eye of the master. I trust that 1928 will be a good year in every way for the community, and in particular to the members of our craft.” The report and balance-sheet ’ were adopted, and appreciative reference was made by delegates from all centres of the able manner in which Mr. Key has guided the association during the year. The conference will last until Friday, and arrangements have been made to see that the delegates combine pleasure with business. This afterno-m a bowling match. Plumbers v. Builders, will be plnyed on the Island Bay green. A motor outing has been arranged for tomorrow’ afternoon, and on Friday afternoon a visit will bo paid to the match factory in Tory Street. The conference will conclude with n smoko concert on Friday evening.