STONEMASONS' CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14326, 11 April 1912, Page 5

STONEMASONS' CONFERENCE

A conference of stonemasons was held in Christehurch on Saturday and "Monday last, tho delegates present, being [Messrs.if..J. Kemp and. K. Dv.-ion (Auckland). J. Hiekmott (Wellington). D. Alexander (Wellington), the Hon. J. Barr, and Mr J. Gibson- (Christehurch). Tho Hon. J. Han- was elected President, of tho Conference, and Mr J. Gibson secretary. The delegates confined 'themselves principally to the questions direutlv affecting their own particular trade. The, only proposal of a general character, namoly, tliat the Conference adopts the Unity Scheme, was defeated. The Conciliation and Arbitration Act i came under review, and various amendments wero .proposed, the most important being a proposal to alter the constitution of the Court. To overcome the trouble that had arisen in tho past, and wag bound to occur in the future, it was held that the Court ought to be comprised of experts in the industry in which the dispute had arisen, these exports to with the judge or chairman. ' ,

Another important alteration suggested wa.s the amending of Clause 35 of tho 1903 Amendment, Act in tho direction of giving power to a Council of Conciliation to order that all books, papers or documents which might tend to show a. true'statement of profit and losses, be submitted to the Conciliation Commissioner, who, with a competent auditor, could examine them.

A proposal submitted by the Christclmrch Union, that an endeavour to form standing committees of Unions ill the, building trade in each centre in tho Dominion, was agreed to, but. a proposal .submitted by iho fsimc Union. "That the 11 hours now cinuituting tho week's work be. worked in five days," was defeated, the opinion of the majority being that -1.4 hours in five days was too much like entrenching on tho eight hour day.

A lengthy discussion took place on the custom amongst some contractors of having dressed stono built on other than its natural lied. Particular reference was made .to Oamaru stone. Ii was decided that the New Zealand architects should he communicated with, and that .-very Union be asked to take action where such a thing was flone, ;is it- was generally against the terms of the contract.

In connection with a proposal from the Auckland Union. '-That a conference urges the Government to insert in all future contracts for Government buildings, a clause absolutely forbidding .-.lib-contracting of masonry work, as we are convinced stih-eontracting i< detrimental to our trade." it was decided that the request Ik* forward, d to Iho Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works, and that in addition, all Unions be asked to urge the local bodies in their respective districts to insurt a provision forbidding sub-con-tracting ot niacin work in the specifications ut ;ii| future eontrnct...

Information -was laid before the Conference of the likelihood of very .serious industrial trouble in connection with the trade in Dunedin. It was decided that failinii an early settlement, the president of the Conference (the Hon. .J. Ban) | cocced to Diin*-diu. and advise and a>si.st the Union ther.'.

A\"..!]i,,.rf, m ...jl] j„, T l 1(1 h,. n .], iUar t,. rs of the New Zealand Executive tor the ensuin- y. .;,!■. and th.- i,.-..:t conf.-ren/-.. will be heid In 1.-.,.,tci-i week. 1913. :