The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1920. THE BUILDING INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1920. THE BUILDING INDUSTRY.

In welcoming the delegates to the annual meeting at Christchurc.li of the N.Z. Federated Builders' and Contractors' Association of Employers, the deputy-Mayor, who is a member of the Canterbury Builders' Association, alluded to the world-wide difficulties' which had to be faced in regard to labor and material, but particularly the high wages that had to be paid, making it almost impossible for builders to carry on successfully. In this respect the builders by no means have a monopoly of adverse factors, but are on all fours with those engaged in most of the other industries, al--1 hough it is possible the public are more directly acquainted with builders' troubles, as the community is experiencing grave inconvenience consequent on the shortage of housing accommodation, and the construction of other buildings in which they are directly and indirectly interested. The only possible solution of the present problem with which builders are faced is by means of satisfactory adjustment of wages, labor and material. The wages factor cannot be regarded as the most serious of the three,- though its duration must coincide with that of the present high cost of living and depreciation of the value of the sovereign. There is no immediate prospect of relief under this head, though its acuteness may be mitigated by an influx of immigrants of carpenters and others employed in the building trade, yet until the supply is greater than the demand the position must remain unaltered. In this connection one phase of th«

i shortage of labor mentioned by the Manawatu delegate (Mr. Griggs) deserves particular attention, namely, the dearth, of apprentices. This is a serious matter, and apparently is due to the attraction oi the motor engineering trade for boys, but, as the delegate remarked, "they cannot all be motor engineers or flying men," and he urged that the necessity for teaching boys to build houses should be proclaimed throughout the Dominion, while another delegate contended that apprentices should be encouraged by means of bonuses and scholarships. It is evident that some steps should be taken to reinforce the ranks of those engaged in the building industry, otherise both the quality and quantity of the work executed will suffer more and more as time goes on. There are now employed in the trade far too many unqualified "handy" men who have not been taught their trade, yet are able to use tools, and are given work because the supply of "tradesmen" is considerably below the demand. The Government can help towards solving this problem by a system of co-ordination of school work, after the age of fourteen years, with apprenticeships, while the master-builders can institute a system of bonuses -that will counteract the lure of the motor workshops. It is to the interest of the builders to have competent and quick employees. Therefore it should be their aim to encourage apprentices to make as rapid progress as possible in learning their trade, and to that end should eliminate the practice of their workmen in making the lot of apprentices a severe trial of patience and temper. This could be obviated by giving foremen in the shops and on the works a bonus regulated by the progress made by the apprentices. With reference to the shortage and price of material, the resolutions passed by the conference were reasonable, and should receive favorable consideration. The claim that representations of master builders should be invited when the Board of Trade fixes the prices of timber is thoroughly sound, and the Board should welcome expert aid in this matter. In view of the shortage of timber in the Dominion, and the necessity for conserving as much as possible the available supplies, the requests that the Government should remove all Customs duty on imported timber and make the railway rates the same on foreign as on local timber, are entitled to be regarded as expressive of a policy that is in the best interests of the country, and should meet with speedy compliance. The attitude of the conference as to cement distribution, and in urging that steps be taken to increase the supply, emphasises the unsatisfactory position that exists in relation to that commodity, and its effect in hampering building operations, though the Government only controls the distribution, and not the output. The building trade has to contend with a number of difficulties, some of which can be obviated, while others can only «wait more favorable conditions'. The industry is of such great importance that all concerned should use every effort to place it on a more satisfactory footing.