SERIOUS EFFECT

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

SERIOUS EFFECT

NEW INDUSTRIAL LAWS DOMINION BODY’S REPORT "DETRIMENTAL TO PROGRESS’* “There Is no doubt that the industrial legislation introduced by the Government has had a serious effect n;>on the building trade by its limitation of the hours of work to a five- t day week of 4 0 hours, and the intro- 1 duct-ion of conditions in other direc- t tions involving greatly increased lab- I our costs all of which have prevented 1 manv from putting building work in I hand.” stated the annual report of the i executive of the New Zealand Federat- 1 ed Builders’ and Contractors’ Indus- i trial Association of Employers, unan- i lmously adopted at. the opening of the ] association’s annual conference in < Hamilton to-day. The Dominion presi- > d p nt. Mr W. A. Petrie, of Timaru, presided. I “The greater part of the legislation that has been enacted throughout this Dominion and which affects the people engaged in the building Industry,” the executive adds, “cannot be held to be anything other than detrimental to the progress of the Industry. “The only 1 eneflt that cun be claimed ' from all the recent legislation is enjoyed by the tradesmen employed by builders who are working shorter hours and receiving higher wages which, in effect, has increased costs considerably and prevented many from proceeding with work that would otherwise have been put in hand. Furthermore, it has created a definite shortage of labour which is having a serious effect upon the progress of this Dominion." Increase In Building Notwithstanding the higher building costs, the report went on, the progress of building as indicated by the number of permits issued for the year and the value thereof has shown an increase. The following table shows the position:— Year No. or Permits Value 1938 1 4,479 £8.992.497 1937 12,809 £7,043,970 j Increase .. 1,070 £1,948,527 Comparing the number of permits 'issued in the larger centres for new buildings and alterations to existing buildings in 1038, with those issued in 1037, there was an increase of 1670; while comparing the money value of the permits issued for these buildings, there is an increase of £1.948,527 over the figures of the previous year. More Dwelling Houses The permits issued for dwelling houses only during the year 1938 represent an increase over the number of permits issued in 1037 by 1822, the numbers being: 1938, 5853; 1937, 4031. Statistics are given hereunder, the report continued in respect of the operations of the building construction industry during 1037-38. These statistics are. compiled from the returns received from builders throughout the | Dominion, and should not he confused | with the statistics of building permits issued by local authorities. Features | of the statistics are the establishing of I new record high levels for the cost of 1 materials used and the value of work I done. Production Statistics | The principal statistics for the last ! three years are as follows: ! Establishments returned: 1935-36, 14 ‘ : 1930-37, 1512: 1937-38. 1522. persons engegert*: Males. 1 935-36. 8271; ; J 936-37. 9645: 1937-38. 1 1,386. Females: ! 75: 76; 85. Total?: 8316; 9721: 1 1,471. 1 S Uaries and wacos paid**: To males: ;:<C. -36. £1.530.792; 1936-37. £2.010.701; ' 9 3 '-38. £2.672.17 1. To reinales, £6132 ; f 7 1 3 : £0322. Total.?: £1530,924; £2,017,-f-21 £2.681.493. ist oi materials used (including paynrrt tn sub-contractors : 1035-36 £4.404.1 936-37. £5.620.845: £7.096.722. 1 Other expenses: 1935-36. £2 1 2.954; 9 ; >-37. £274.664: 1937-38, £360,497. Value nr work done: 1935-36, £6,279,'■s6. 1936-37, £8,133,847; 1937-38, £lO,- * A fried Value: 1935-36, £1,855,617; 19367 £2.513.002; 1937 3S. £3.325,508. Value f and and buildings: £352„464; £363,- , .i?v £439,570. Plant and machinery: 2 5 2,055; £257.870; £300.552. Totals ' £661,519; £621,198; £740,122. Votive Power. —Engines: 1935-36, 1137: I *935-37, 1299; 1937-38, 1541. Horsej power: 1935-36, 6682; 1936-37, 7089; i 1937-3 S. 8548. •Including working proprietors but not i -ub contractors or their emnloyees. ••Including amounts drawn by working proprietors in lieu or salary or wages. Wages Up 3y 33 Per Cent Commenting on the more important items in the above table, the report | staled that the increases for the 193738 year over the 1936-37 period represented 33 per cent in respect of i salaries and wages paid (to 18 per cent more people). The cost of materials rosfe by 26 per cent in the same period and the value of work done by i 28 per cent. | "It should be noted that,” the report adds, “where part of the work has been done by sub-contract. the 'amounts paid to sub-contractors have j been included under the heading ‘cost > | of materials used’, but where work of jib's kind (electrical installations, I plumbing, etc) has been done by em- . j ip.voes of builders the wages paid to ; these workmen have been included , i -m- er the item ‘salaries and wages • ! pal T.” Dn being put to the meeting, the i ! vepirt was adopted unanimously and \lr W. F. Glue (Canterbury! con- ; those responsible for its ’ ; compilation. The report was unusuali iy comprehensive and contained much useful information. : The balance-sheet, which disclosed ' ■ a position greatly improved over that of the previous financial year, was also 1 adopted. During the depression, said 1 Mv \Y. J. Mountjoy (Wellington), sec- ' retary. the association had to face a 1 deficit, but a gradual improvement had : ; been shown and to-day the position . 1 was very satisfactory.