N.Z. BUILDERS' FEDERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 18 July 1907, Page 4

N.Z. BUILDERS' FEDERATION.

Per Press Association "" . Wellington, July Hi. A deputation from the New Zealand Builders' Federation waited upon the Acting-Minister for Public Works today, and asked the Government to adopt conditions governing (iovcrnnient contracts agreed to at the meeting of builders and architects held at Timuru some time ago. The deputation also brought forward the ijuostion of conserving native timber areas.

Tin' Minister -aid lie would requireto peruse tin' conditions of contract liefore giving any definite reply, lmt, speaking generally, it would appear rather n large order that, a contractor was framing conditions which a poison letting a contract would he required to carry out. Regarding unlive limber nrc.is, he said the Government recognised the necessity of conserving all timher supplies. The same deputation afterwards waited on the Minister for Labor, and asked fur a capitation allowance to enable apprentices to attend technical school classes, and to give the Arbitration Court power to compel the attendance of apprentices at such classes. The Minister siiidthe fiovernment was sending an enormous sum on technical education, and he did not know where the present trend of things was ;."inp to land thev The Minister also pointed out that education was compulsory up to 14 years, and the deputation was now practically asking the Ooverninent to make it compulsory up to 21 years. He asked if the employers proposed to give any time for buys to attend technical classes.

Mr Bennett, president of the Federa Hon. said that, point had not been con sidercd.

The Minister said consideration must be given to the whole matter before a decision was arrived at.