MASTER BUILDERS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19886, 15 May 1936, Page 9

MASTER BUILDERS

UNION IN HAMILTON

’ INITIAL YEAR REVIEWED. 1 i i i MR \V. B. YOUNG AGAIN PRESIDENT‘ l i ‘ i ‘ Successful efforts to place the , building trade in Hamilton on a betteri ibasis were reviewed at the first an—nual meeting of the Hamilton )lasteri ißuilders and Contractors‘ Industrial} Union of Employers. in the Wattle‘ ,Tearooms last evening. Interest in i the attairs of the Union was reflected, in the representative attendance of‘ ‘members, the president, Mr W. B. 1 Young. presiding. ‘ At the outset oi the meeting’ the ‘chairmsn extended a welcome to the members, and said it was pleasing to‘ see such a representative attendancei Reviewing the work of the Union's first year Mr Young said that in his opinion the formation of the Union was a step in the right direction as he [believed they had been able to do‘ ‘ much as an organisation for the bene—t .fit of individual builders and eon-i {tractors which could not have beeni ‘ done otherwise. ‘ i Decline In Standard. ‘ 1 “During the depression, more soj than in hrevlous years, the building iindusti'y foil to a very low standard and conditions were chaotic owing to cut. throat competition in tendering for jobs," he said. “In forming the Union the procedure of similar organisations which had been in existence for many years in other parts of New Zealand. was followed and the Union was r - gisterod under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, as a Union of Employers and was also amliated with the parent body in Wellington, the New iZealand Builders and Contractors‘ tFederaiion. I personally think this was a step in the right direction as i the New Zealand Federation has been} lot invaluable help to us as we in} Hamilton are inclined to be parochial ‘ in our outlook and it is indeed a greati {advantage to be in the position toi tappeai to some recognised authority ‘in a large city where they have pro-‘ iba‘bly had a great deal more experiq i ence and are in closer touch with the‘ ‘ bigger problems of life." i i The speaker added that many im-t iportant matters had been dealt with; The Union had endeavoured to securel a better understanding between build-l iers and architects, especially regard:ing the purchase of hardware and intcidentals, which architects were in i the habit of providing from their own isource of supply. sometimes to the i detriment of builder and owner. It , was also the practice to call for fresh tenders when it was discovered that i quotes were higher than anticipated, and to overcome this the builders agreed not. to tender a second time within three months, unless the contract; had been altered by approximately 20 per cent, They had also agreed not to sublet labour only, on any woodwork Job. Members also decided to refuse to “tender for any work advertised in a newspaper except through an architect's or engineer's ofilce unless with the consent' of the executive. The executive! perused the proposed conditions of contract of the incorporated architects and a number of alterations was made at their request. They had also been useful in settling points raised between builder and architect. Preparation of Plans. Referring to plans, the speaker said that apparently through an oversight. some builders failed to append their names and address on the plans with the result that owners, in some cases. had canvassed other builders for quotes, and in order to avoid this un—fair practice, the executive had agreed[ among themselves, not to quote on the plans drawn by another member. In the matter of fire claims and adjustors, for some considerable time builders had been treated most un—fairly. in that several had been ap—proached for prices to repair damage by fire and these figures had been used in order to settle claims and no payment had been made to the builders for services rendered. Apparently insurance companies were not aware of the position as, when the matter was drawn to their attention they agreed that when no tender was ac—i ceptcd a fee would be paid to the lowest tenderer. “It sometimes happens that there is a shortage of work for a week or two, with the result that employees have been without work." continued] the speaker. ”VVe now have an ar-i ran-gement whereby we advise the secretary when we have an employee whom we can recommend to members and any member requiring extra as—sisiance should get in touch with the‘ secretary in this connection." Continenting‘on the registration of builders, he said it appeared that most of the other professions and industries were protected in some way or other, and to ensure that none but (‘nmpcirnt builders were engaged in the industry, it had been Suggested that, each iirnl'should be registered by the Government. and that only registered buiidrrs should he allowed in opvruir. He ihmuzhi this most desirable and from information ro— from \\'ciiinuion it would ap—pear that in the near futurr they would t‘\lli‘l‘i. smur prolcuiion ivh‘i lim‘rrnnir‘niai control. Appri‘l‘iiiiiflll ni‘ the work of the i'Vl‘t‘liii\f‘ \\as also expressed by the sprain-r. 'l'iu' sialn‘iucni of accounts dis—riusr‘ii an (\\'rr‘ss of income over (‘V—pt‘iiiiiliii‘t' ul' 5310 11’s iii, and, with the l't‘]itii'ii was adopted. in murinc the adoption of [he rrpurl, ,\lr \\'. l‘unurnc said that (is a new rugunisuliun. the. l'ninn iliili liniiCl remarkably “1‘“ in its llrsi )‘i'ar. Tim need For cnrniiinu' all Incinbrrsl ..r the buildin: Irath- in ll:unillun inl iiil‘ i'nEnu was strongly sirl-sswi. Election of Officers. 1 The vim-lion of nllirr‘rs i‘nr iiu‘ on—l suintz )‘rni‘ rx‘sullml:—i‘rrsinivn|. \irl \\'y it. Young: \iwuprx‘sivlvni. .\ir li.i \‘tipiwtun: Mrruihv». \lt-ssrs \\'.i ituurnu. in. 41‘ >‘lrm-3. 1.. \\uilhi-op, i". (i, l,iilil'\'ii. P. Miller. i The lii'iliill.\v'ii nn'\\' award for (‘urn pvulvrs out! Joiners was cousidcrudi .ilni sm'x‘rai :uncniiun‘nis uni] iiulriionsj \\’x‘i’l- sliu'ul'slml, and \\ill in‘ I'ni‘\\.‘n'limil lo the Now [Miami i“|'iil'l'ilil'li Iluihi«| t‘i'r; :uni tionlmut-iors‘ industrial .\s—mn‘itiiiuil oi‘ i-luiployci‘S. .\i the n-nnn‘lusiun oi‘ the business (1 social i'nnrliun was iif‘ili, tiuriuzi \\’ixii'ii ri li‘iin‘i. solos \\‘e'rc rl‘nilt‘rt'tl by' 1.. \\'iniiirnp. anti .wnus by Mr i2. i‘:\\.ll'i,