BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17428, 12 April 1922, Page 10

BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING \ The annual meeting of the Canterbury Builders' and Contractors' Association was held last evening, the president, Mr J. W. Francis, presiding over a large attendance. The annual report stated that during the year, four members had been made life members and presented with illuminated certificates. The matter of erecting a new building for the Association's purposes had Deen carefully considered, and plans and a report would be submitted shortly. As far as finance was concerned, tiie receipts amounted to £506 10s 2d, of which £92 15s Cd had been brought forward from the previous balance. Members' subscriptions, with the exception of the small sum of £lO 10s, had been collected, and the balance was £133 4s lid, as against ££2 15s Cd last year. The expenditure showed an increase in several items. Rates had increased owing to the valuation having been advanced to £2280, of which the building 6tood at £3OO. Interest on mortgage, Federal Council's levy and law expenses were all in excess of the previous year.

The chairman congratulated the Association on the success of the year's working, and on the satisfactory state of its finances, and Mr J. Greig also congratulated the Association and said it was in a better position financially than it had ever been before. The report and balance-sheet were adopted." The secretary of the Canterbury Allied Building Trades' Association of Employers, wrote enclosing a resolution passed by that Association: "That this Association supports the New Zealand Employers' Federation in their endeavour to secure a reduction of prices and wages throughout New Zea. land, and requests each affiliated Association to consider the matter with a view to taking concerted action by all branches of the Building Trade to reduce prices and the wages of employees by the full arnount determined by the Arbitration Court immediately the' new award is announced." The Builders' Association was asked to give notice of any steps it proposed to take, so that the Building Trades as a body might fall into line with the suggestions embodied in the resolutions adopted at the ' conference of employers recently held in Wellington. . The letter was received.

The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, *~r H. Hinkey; vicepresidents, Messrs W. Williamson and J. Graham; secretary, Mr R. E. Nightingale; treasurer, Mr H. Pearce; committee. Messrs E. R. Husband, J. W. Francis, N. McGillivray, W. H. Winsor, R. Scott, L. Bull, and H. Harrison. The meeting then developed into a social gathering, -with the president in the chair, and a very pleasant evening was spent. After the loyal toast, Mr Hinkey proposed the health of "The Retiring Officers," to whose work during the past year he paid a high tribute. Mr Francis briefly responded, expressing his appreciation of the manner in which the committee and the other officers, as well as older members, had assisted him during his year of office. Mr W. J. Brown (Ashburton) proposed the ,toast of "The Incoming Officers," the new preSKent and Mr Husband responding. Mr J>. Lee in proposing the toast of "The Builders' and Contractors' Association," congratulated the Association on its decision to erect new rooms. Mr J. H. Graham, who responded, said that the builders largely depended on the development of local industries, and that Christehurch must T>e kept the industrial centre of New Zealand.

"Allied Trades" was the toast, proposed: by Mr W. Williamson and responded to by Mr J. Greig. MrVGreig stressed the good feeling that existed between the builders and sub-contractora and said that good builders would genially find good sub-contractors. Good and faithful work should be the motto of builders, and contractors alike irrespective of profits, and the man who l put up a well-built four-roomed cottage was worth many of the men who made big profits by erecting numbers of big Buildings in slip-shod fashion. Mr H. Harrison proposed the health of "The Merchants?' who, he said, had seen the builders, through their ups and downs, and done their utmost to keep up the supply of builders' requisites. The toast was responded to by Messrs W. L. King, E. Akin, H. M. Taylor, and G. Watson. Mr R. E. Nightingale proposed the toast of "The Performers," Messrs A. Dey and Bracy Wilson responding. Other toasts honoured were "The Secretary'' (proposed by Mr G. Watson, and responded to by M? Nightingale); 1 "The Ladies" (proposed by Mr L. Bull and responded by.Mr P. Home and Mr J. H. Cocks): and' "The Press" (proposed by Mr W. Williamson). A programme such as is seldom experienced at social gatherings was provided by Messrs E. Akin, A. Soanes, H. M. Taylor, Bracy Wilson, D. McGill, P. Kirbv, J. Gillespie, A. Dey, J. H. Cocks, R. Bryan, G. Watson and C. Werren. Messrs J. Ribgy, E. Lake and T. A. Lawrence acted as accompanists.