ENGINEERING CONTRACTS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19726, 17 September 1929, Page 4

ENGINEERING CONTRACTS.

POSITION OF N.Z. FIRMS. According to the secretary of the Canterbury Engineers' and Allied Trades Union (Mr G. T. Thurston), when a deputation representing the union waited on the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. Mr Ransom) on Friday complaining about engineering contracts being placed abroad without being submitted to Dominion firms, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department (Mr P. W. Furkert) stated that the Department had tired of submitting contracts to New Zealand concerns. The deputation stated that while contracts were sent outside of the Dominion men were seeking work and machinery was lying idle in consequence. Mr Furkert then made the observation attributed to him. Presumably, said Mr Thurston, such a position was due to the lackadaisical business methods of some firms. Bepresentatives of the union intended to vait on the manufacturers to' enquire why the Government should have got tired of submitting contracts to them. A sympathetic reception was given the deputation by the Minister, however a promise being made that the matter would be looked into. The deputation also waited on the Minister for Laboui (the Hon. Mr Veitch) regarding the new award, which had been responsible for dissatisfaction among employees, and urged that certain amendments should be made to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, these being that it be made obligatory for employers to submit agreements to be reviewed by parties to the award, also that in the event of any action being taken for a breach of award the decision should carry with it automatically an order for arrears of wages due. ... . . v The Minister promised to give these matters favourable consideration.