BUILDING TRADE PARALYSED

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 193, 15 August 1911, Page 4

BUILDING TRADE PARALYSED

SHINGLE AND SAND NOT AVAILABLE. BUILDERS AND MERCHANTS IN ffl DILEIUMA. In consequence of the decision of tb» masters of vessels, engaged in carryh,. shingle and sand from the beaches t* Auckland, a serious position in the build. ing trade in the citv has been reached, and should the present difficulty continue for the next few days thero will be no shingle or sand available, and many of the large buildings and dntla. age contracts will be hung up, putting from 2,000 to 3,000 men out of employ. ment. r *

For the past week supplies have been at a minimum, owing to the fact m previously indicated in the "Star,' - of ths boatmen laying up" because the Government would not give them protection against prosecutions for taking shingle and sand, while still charging rova'lty for the same. "

Builders and merchants are now in a serious predicament, and at a mectin» of merchants held yesterday afternoon it was resolved to advise that supplies' of shingle and sand were exhausted, and that merchants could see no prospect of material coming to hand for ths present.

In amplification of the foregoing resolution a prominent merchant explained to a "Star" reporter the exact position as merchants saw it. "So far as we are concerned." he said, "the boatmen ar« on strike, although that is not exactly the position. It Is a fact they cannot get a permit to go for shingle, and they will not go for it. because they would render themselves liable for prosecution by private owners of adjacent territory for taking it. The Marine Department gave them permits and charged royalty, but the landowners immediately started prosecutions against the men for taking shingle and sand from their beaches, and the Government, have Ts-ithdrawn their permit. Before the Government in. sisted on a royalty The boatmen paid it to the landowners, and made good any damage they might occasion. Notli the Marine Department demand a royalty, without sharing any responsibility; and the boatmen are refusing to run shingle until they are given the protection sought after. A SERIOUS MATTER.

"The present position," he said, "ij that for the past ten days the boatj have been held up, and our stocks a'rs practically exhausted. Shingle is already done and sand will disappear in a few days. That is the position of our firm, and I understand that other firms are in less better plight. The number of men who will be thrown out of work, and the imported building operations that will hare to be suspended, unlesl something is done, is a grave matter, On a conservative estimate I should say that from 2000 to 3000 men will be out of work if the Government does not real* ise their responsibility in the matter. There are the Harbour Board wharf constructions, a new reservoir at North. Shore, drainage tanks at Orakei, drains age work at St. George's Bay, Bemtiera, and Parncll, also drainage tunnel from Franklin-road to Cox's creek—all. these and other works where shingle and sand are recpiirod : in large quantities must cease of a day of these jobs represent hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Messrs. Mays and Gordon, contractors for the new reservoir at Devonport, stat« that unless supplies come to hand immediately, they will have to suspend between 30 and 40 men. This is a £BOOO job. In connection with another job at Parnell they had to procure shingle from another firm this morning, but this would not last longer than to-day, and they were very much afraid they would have to cease work, except for trimming and tunnelling. The job is worth £2OOO and 20 men will be affected. BOATMEN WILL HOLD OUT.

When seen by a "Star" reporter thia morning, Capt. Kasper, Secretary of tha Auckland Coastal Masters' Association, stated that the masters will hold out until the Government give them protection. Since Monday week last the boat! have been <eoming in steadily and retifr ing from the shingle and sand trad* Most of them are lying idle in Auckland, while others have gone into other trades for the time being. There were some 5C or more boats with crews numbering 300 engaged in this trade. No suppliea have been brought in since lost week, and masters arc sacrificing rather tbaa trade. "It is a question of the Goternment giving all consideration to the big men and letting the working men help himself," said Capt. Kasper, when it was J stated that the Harbour Board had ob« : taitied permission to procure shingle and sand. "But none of our boats will get it for them." he added. The permit, which is forwarded by oUf Parliamentary reporter, reads as follows:- — "The Minister of Marine, the Hon. 3. Millar, has decided to give the Auck* .1 land Harbour Board power to taka I shingle from Waiaro Bay until the offi- j cial "order reaches the Department at Auckland, and has wired to that effect*

The Secretary of the Auckland Harbour Board confirmed the above tele* gram, and said that at the present moment the Board's supplies of shingt* were right out. A number of men wefa discharged this week, and the Chairman has been negotiating with the Minister for several days past with regard to this matter. If the traders refUfli*. ti bring in shingle, and sand, he said, we -ivill simply have to buy a scow of OUf own to do the work.