THE PAINTERS' YEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1920, Page 4

THE PAINTERS' YEAR.

LABOR SHORT AND PLENTY OP WORK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The fourth annual conference of th« Xew Zealand Federatipn of Master Painters, Decorators, and Signwriters was opened this morning. Mr P. T. Birch (Auckland) presided, and fifteen delegates from all parte of New Zealand were present.

In a report, upon the gear's operations, the President said the. trade had passed through- an anxious time, owing to the difficulties in securing both labor and materials. The number of journeymen painters had been much reduced by the effects of the war, and at the same time employers were faced with much lenovation work which had accumulated during the war period. They were thus hard pressed to meet the requirements of their clients.

The President also referred to Oie unsuccessful attempt lately made to bring the building trades under ojic big award, and expressed his satisfaction with the result, to which, he considered, the Master Painters' Federation had contributed by laying valuable information before the Aibitration Court. During the yeftf attempts were made to get Ministers of the Crown to consider certain matters affecting the trade (notably the interior inspection of dwellings and the registration of painters), but without success. A renewed effort would be made this year. The executive's report dealt with ft number of matters affecting organisation. The abolition of scrim, it stated, had been well considered, but, owing to a shortage of substitute materials, nothing definite had been tlone. No further actioff had been taken by the Govern- i ment in the direction of prohibiting the use of white lead, but this matter vaa being carefully watched.