BUILDERS AND THE BUILDING TRADE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 6, 13 October 1871, Page 3

BUILDERS AND THE BUILDING TRADE.

To the Editor of the Thames Guardian. Sib, —Will you kindly allow me the protection of your Guardian wings while

I call your attention to a subject of considerable importance to a large portion of our community. I imagine, sir, that no one will for a moment deny that there are immense advantages to be derived from having in our midst a supply of tradesmen and mechanics which is always equal to the demand, and who are capable of undertaking and cariying out skilfully and well anything which may be required of them, and who are quietly and persevcringly applying themselves to the development of the resources of this new and glorious country. If the foregoing be coirect, then this portion of our community is quite justified in asking and expecting a fair and reasonable remuneration for the results of their long apprenticeships, their skill, and their capital. Some one will perhaps say that builders in this country are not celebrated for the large amount of capital which they possess. I am sorry there is so much truth in this; but it only renders my position more unassailable when I say that in proportion to their skill, and energy, and perseverance, they have not shared equally in the remuneration of labor on the Thames. lam not speaking of the matter of the rate of wages, but of the position of the contractor or employer of labor. This question is not of the slight importance some may imagine, as it is intimately connected with the increase of our population, and permanent settlement of the country. Sir, it is a fact that in no province of the same size in the Australian Colonies has there been so many failures in the building trade, and so many instances of breaking down, as in this Province. Indeed Auckland builders and carpenters have become a byword in the south in this matter.

Now, sir, there must be some reason for this —that cause we wish to ascertain, and if possible apply a remedy. I believe, sir, that there are numerous causes, all of which tend to the present unsuccessful and somewhat disreputable state of the trade, one or two of which I beg leave to lay before the trade and the public, and to have the question fairly and honestly discussed on its merits. The first question is the present indiscriminate inanuer of letting by public tender to Tom, Dick or Harry, all and sundry of the works now necessary to be done on the field. The next question is the manner in which contracts arc agreed upon, and the very loose and unsatisfactory way in which deeds of contract are got up by our soheitors and architects, which builders have no choice but to sign. Then there is the question of the precise duties of the architect, which appears to me to be, if not misunderstood, to be at least very much neglected. Then again we have the question of settlement of disputes and differences as to carrying out designs from detective drawings, or in the abseuce of detail altogether, the question of the money value and time in alterations and addiiions where the contractor has no choice but to be satisfied with the award of the architect or propiietor, or make vp his mind to go to an expensive suit in the Supreme Court and lose perhaps his all. As well as some other matters of importance which are daily coming under our notice, and to which I would invite the attention of the builder, timber, brick and iron merchants, as well as the proprietor, to endeavor to place the trade on a somewhat more safe and remunerative position to the contractor, and more satisfactory to thG Landlord.