MASTER BUILDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 11

MASTER BUILDERS.

ANNUAL SMOKE SOCIAL.

THE ASSOCIATION'S ACTIVITIES

A gathering of about 80 members of the Auckland Master Builders' Association and friends were present at the Tiffin Dining Rooms last night on the occasion of the annual smoke social of that institution. Mr. J. Hutchison, president, occupied the chair, and extended a welcome to the visitors, who were representative of the various allied trades. In a short address, Mr. Hutchison referred to the activities of the association during the past year, which, he said, had been well maintained. It had watched over the interests of not only its members but also of all those engaged in the building trade, and that was a fact that was not generally recognised. Organisation had to be fought by organisation, and he would urge that those members who were not in active touch with the work of the association should take a gTeater interest in it. The numerous advantages that the builders

of Auckland had secured through the existence of the association was a jkjsi- 1 tive reason why it should be heartily supported and strengthened in every way. It strove to maintain "a fair deal for all parties' , as its guiding principle, and that was now generally recognised with the result that the recommendations from builders carried much weight with the architects. On behalf of the industry generally the association had taken part in considering applications by various unions regarding increased wages, and matters relative to the Apprentices Act. The first sitting of the Architects' Advisory Board, which consists of three members of the Institute of Architects and three members of the association, had been held. It was proposed that the board should consider items of mutual interest to builders and architects and make representations to their respective organisations with a view to obtaining a still more cordial relationship between the two and adopting standards of work and calculation, that would be of considerable advantage to builders and architects.

Concluding, Mr. Hutchison said the membership roll had been well maintained, it standing at about 180. While there were not many builders of importance outside the association, he urged that all engaged in the building industry should regard it as incumbent upon them to support their association.

The toast of "The New Zealand Builders' Federation ,, was proposed by the chairman and responded to by Mr. C. A. Lee. Mr. G. Pollard proposed the toast of "The Institute of Architects," the response coming from Mr. R, Abbott, vice-president of the Auckland branch of the institute. "The Auckland Merchants" were toastuil by Mr. V. A. Coyle, vice-president of the Auckland Builders' Association, Messrs. F. G. Baskett, S. Reed, and A. G. Graham responding.

A musical programme was much en joyed and was contributed to by Messrs Bellam, Simpson, Sawtell. R. Yatt-?, '! T. Garland, and Master Walker.