TROUBLES OF BUILDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1920, Page 5

TROUBLES OF BUILDERS.

1 BURDEN OF HIGH.WAGES. LAOIC OF APPRENTICES, " By Telegraph.—wess Association. Cliristclmrcli, Last Night. The twenty-first annual meeting of the New Zealand Federated Builders'' and Contractors' Association of Employers opened to-day. Amongst the delegates were Messrs H. D. Preston and D, Jensen (New Plymouth). In welcoming the visitors, Mr. J. W. Beanland, deputy-Mayor of Christchurch, and a member of the Canterbury Builders' Association, -said they had been faced in Chrtetchurch with the difficulties which exist all through New Zealand and throughout the civilised world. There were difficulties in front of them still, both in regard to material and labor, while they felt now that wages were getting so high that it was almost impossible for builders to carry on successfully. "We must look to one thing—that we keep on the best possible terms with the men we employ," he added. The shortage of apprentices in the trade was referred to by Mr. Griggs (Manawatu), who said that instead of some boys being taught trades they had no one to fill the places of those who were going out of the building trade. There wore no apprentices in New Zealand at the present time, and he asked how was the trade going to continue. The necessity of teaching boys to build houses should bo proclaimed throughout New Zealand. He added that we must have n proportion of the boys learning the trade; tliey cannot all be motor engineers or flying men. It is the parents whom wc must get .in touch with. If the people want, houses to live in they must have their boys taught the trade. Another delegate said apprentices I should be encouraged by means of bonuses and scholarships. The Federation carried the following motipns:— That in connection with the fixing of the price of timber by the Board of Trade Committee, this conference is definitely of the opinion that the representations of the master builders should be invited and considered when such prices were being fixed. That the Government be asked to remove all Customs duty on imported timber, and to make the railway rates the same on foreign as on local timber. That whereas the building industry of the Dominion is at the present time being seriously handicapped through the continued shortage of supplies of cement, this conference, while recognising the work of the Board of Trade in' controlling and' distributing the available supplies equitably and for essential buildings only, respectfully calls upon the Government to take such steps as I will result in a material increase in the output. Tlie builders of the Dominion pledge themselves loyally to assist the Government, and to stand by the Association in carrying out any scheme that may be promoted to overcome the very serious shortage in this essential building commodity.