INCIDENCE OF AWARDS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20737, 22 February 1939, Page 8

INCIDENCE OF AWARDS

EFFECT UPON CONTRACTS DIFFICULTIES OF BUILDERS PROVISION OF SAFEGUARDS ! 'Reference to the difficulties of sue- [ cessfu] tendering by builders caused by workers’ claims for ®new awards : was made by the executive of the New Zealand Federated Builders’ and Contractors’ Industrial Association of : Employers in 1 lie annual report tabled ! at the opening of the Dominion con- I fcrence in Hamilton to-day. “ Of late years,” stated the report, “ workers’ unions have been filing claims for new awards at least annually. This has caused a good do ;I of concern to master builders throughout the Dominion. “In many cases a builder, baying taken a contract, lias proceeded only for a short period of time when he has been faced with claims for a nv award involving greatly increased wage hills a provision which he was unable, when tendering for !rc work, to estimate or include in Us 1 tender, at least with any chance of ! being the successful tenderer.” Provision Should be Made The opinion had been expressed by i many builders throughout the Dorrinion that, provision should be made in . the conditions of contract to safeguard builders against such increased < ■••sts. ’ I The difficulty that arose in connect' m . | with this was that owners entering j into contracts for the erection of buildings were not prepared, in many cases, to sign up agreements unless thev were sure of the total r.ist. .if the'undertaking. This was a difficulty \ which had to he overcome, and it w us I considered that if awards of the Court I of Arbitration were made for a period J of three years, a build.- would have j some security in tendering l'or and carrying out bis work. • I Tiie matter is to he discussed by 1 ! way of remit at the present con- ? fcrence. _________________