Local Firm Approached To Finish “Black” House

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29770, 13 March 1962, Page 17

Local Firm Approached To Finish “Black” House

A Christchurch building firm has been approached to complete the house in Memorial avenue which was declared “black" by the Canterbury Carpenters’ Union on February 1. No work has been done on the house since February 18.

"We have been approached with a view to finishing the house. That is as far as it has gone at the moment,” said Mr M. R. Carter, principal of Maurice R. Carter, Ltd, a building, contracting and joinery firm. A union spokesman said last evening that the black ban on the house would not be lifted until it was known exactly under what conditions the house was to’ be completed. The house was begun by Beazley, South Island, Ltd., a subsidiary of Beazley Homes. Ltd., a North Island firm, under an arrangement with the Independent Grocers’ Alliance, who advertised it as a prize for the winner of a national crossword competition. Announcing that his union had declared the house “black,” the secretary of the Canterbury Carpenters’ Union (Mr F. L. Langley) said on February 4 that the ban had been imposed because it was being built under a labour-only contract. He claimed that labour-only contracts were "illegal’’ under the terms of his union's award and that if the contracts were allowed to operate in Canterbury they would lead to a loss of working conditions for union members. The foundations of the house had been built before the union declared it black and some timber was on the site. The framework of the house was completed, but no more materials were brought to the site before work stopped. Two men, one from Dunedin and one from the North Island, worked on the house. A black pennant was nailed to the roof ridge when work stopped but has since been removed. A dozen other unions, including the timberworkers, seamen, railwaymen and transport workers, and the Canterbury master builders’ and sub-contractors’ associations, have declared themselves subsequently to be

against labour-only contracts.

Thousands of houses are built each year under labouronly contracts in the North Island. Beazley Homes, Ltd, builds 1500 houses a year under such contracts in the North Island.

It is known that representatives of the firm have approached Labour Department officials in Wellington and employers’ association officers concerning the ban imposed on the house. It is believed the firm has been advised that it may contest the legality of the union's action in the Arbitration Court or seek civil redress in the Supreme Court by way of a writ for an injunction to restrain the union and a claim for damages. The I.G.A. wanted the house in Memorial avenue completed by April 7. A spokesman for the I.G.A. last month said that whatever the outcome of the dispute a home, of equal value, would be made available to the winner of the crossword competition if the winner wanted a house in Christchurch.