NOT CONSULTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 40, 17 February 1943, Page 2

NOT CONSULTED

Under the above heading Mr. H. M. Clark, secretary of the Master Builders' Association, writes a criticism of my statement in regard to the new proposed order for the building industry. Mr. Clark states: "As a matter of fact neither the employers' representatives of the Defence Construction Committee nor the New Zealand Federated Builders' Association were consulted in any way whatsoever until the orders became law." What are the facts? Briefly these:—(l) The whole of the representatives of the building trades, employers and workers, were called to a conference in Wellington before the original order was made. (2) Control committees were set up in each district composed of representatives of workers and employers. (3) In Auckland sub-committees, with equal representation, were appointed to deal with the various phases of the order. (4) The reports and decisions of these sub-commit-tees were submitted to the control committee at a general meeting, and I reiterate that in regard. to the travelling time clause, payment of the minimum wage and many other recommendations the general committee endorsed the sub-committee's reports unanimously. F. CRAIG, President of Trades Council.