BUILDING TRADES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 7

BUILDING TRADES

EMPLOYEES’ ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of the Wellington Builders’ and Contractors' Xuduetrial Union of Employers was held on ‘Wednesday evening, Mr H. Mainland occupying the chair. It was reported that several questions have arisen respecting the correct interpretation of tho general conditions of contract, and these will call for consideration when they are nest under review by architect® and builders. The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners moved early in tho present year for a new award, and claims for increases in wages were preferred by (ham, in all Dominion centres.- Wellington was the last of the. four chief centres at which the dispute vra« sot down for 1 hearing by tho Arbitration Court. Consequently awards were made in other centres prior to the local Conciliation Council sittings, and the assessors had practically no alternative but to_ accept the awards already made as settling the local dispute. Tho award, is Is fid per hour and 3d per hour war bonus. The workers secured concessions with respect to dirty work, and on other points tho effect of which will not he fully known until pint into practice. Already in one district the workers are claiming tho 3d por hour for dirty work when restoring tho portions cf a building damaged by fire. They had been paid the extra rate for demolition and wished it continued while reinstating. It is intended do seek the interpretation of the Arbitration Court on tho points. The Builders’ Labourers’ Union having became moribund, it was amalgamated with the General Labourers’ Union. Tho latter asked this union to meet the labourers in conference. _ An evening was spent by the committee in endeavouring to come tp an agreement, but without result. At the subsequent Conciliation Council -proceedings a settlement was reached on the basis of Is 3d jner hour and a wot bonus of ltd per hour, and the conditions of tho old award.

Tho report oho makes reference to the representation of the union _on other bodies, including the Industrial Association and the Council of the "Wellington Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the Building Gonstruction Board of Control of the Wellington Technical School, the president has: had occasion to attend many meetings, and to take itn a stand for the betterment of tho syllabus cf the classes, and for the eaoour-igcxnent. of employers in taking and training apprentices.