BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS' CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 45, 22 August 1892, Page 2

BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS' CONFERENCE.

A NEW FEDERATION. A Conference— tho first ever bold in Now Zealand— of representatives of tho different Builders' and Contractors' Associations) in the colony, was hold on Saturday evening at the residenco of Mr. Jamcß Trevor, Courtenay-place. The business was chiefly to disouss tho Government Conditions of Contract, several clauses of which are regarded as one-sided and unfair to contractors. A petition on tho subjeot has been presented to Parliament, and the delegates are to appear before a Committee of tho House on Tuosday and point out tho clauses they desire amended. Tho dologatos prosent wero— Mr. A. Bain (Dnnediu), Mr. Thomas Foden (Timaru), and Messrs. James Itussoll, Thomas Carmichael, and J. Trovor (Wellington). Messrs. B. Carmiohaol, G. Norbnry, and H. J. White, moinbers of tho Wollington Association, wero also present. A telegram was read from Q. Rhodes, Socrotary of tho Auckland Association, to tho effect that it was unlikely a dologato from his Association would bo able to attend, but wishing 1 the Conforonce snocoss in it» mission. Tho Christchurch delegate, Mr. K. F. England, it was stated, would arrivo in time to meet tho Committee of tho House Mr. James Hussell, President of tbo Wollington Builders' Association, was voted to tho chair, and Mr. H. J. Whito was asked to aot as Secretary. Clauses 2, 5, 11, 13, 24 and 40, of tho Conditions of Contract wero those to which exception was chiefly taken. Clanso 2, which reqnires that each tenderer for a contraot shall send in a complete schedule of quantities, was considered to impose an unnocossary amount of labour on contractors, as tho delegates wero of opinion that if schedules were roquirod at all Government should provido them. Exception was also takon to a sub-seclion of tho same clauso, which insists upon successful tendorers finding two sureties. Clanso 5, sub-section 4, wliich requires the contractor to satisfy himself as to tho correctness of tho plans, drawings, and specifications, and provide for every oontingeney that may ariso, should, it was urged, be struck out, as it was absolutely impossible to comply with tho condition, If aofoots oocurred, it was considered that Government should boar tho cost of correcting thorn. Subsection 3 of clauso 11, empowering tho Engineer to direct all works, was objected to as an unnecessary provision. Exception was taken to the power given to tho Enginoor under clause 13 to mark or brand material which he considers to bo unfit for uso, and it was oontondod that contractors ought not to be held responsible for damage whioh might ooour to tho work during tho '* maintonanco period," as provided in olauso 24. All disputes should be referred to arbitration, and not loft solely to tho decision of the Enginoor. It was therefore] suggested that olauso 10 should bo eliminated and an arbitration clauso inserted. Mr. Carmiohaol urged, and, it was agrood, that an effort should likewise bo mado to havo a " strike " olauso inserted. Ho pointed ont that it was a condition mado by tho British Association., At present contractors wore absolutely unprotected, and tho effoota of a strike would bo ruinous. A clause should bo insorted providing that during tbo time of a striko the contruct should remain dormant. Mr. Bain brought up the question of subletting. It was absurd, he said, to impose restrictions against snb-letting on large contracts, which meant that a contractor must koep a etaff of different tradesmen. Reforring to the co-operative _ contract system, Mr. Bain remarked that his Association had no real objection to it, but what I thoy did consider unfair was tho hole-and-corner fashion in whioh those contracts woro lot. The system, as at present carried out, was anything but satisfactory. On tho motion of tho Chairman, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Bain, Fodeu, T. Canmchaol. and England, was appointed to draw up a schedule of the objections taken to tho Government Conditions of Contract, for submitting to tho Committoo of tho House The Workmen's Lien Bill passed by tho Lower House was disouseod, its provisions being heartily approved of. Lest it should bo altered in its progress through tho Logislativo Council, it was resolved to urgo tho retention of clause 4, which provides that when a person knowingly allows work tobo done upon any land or ohattolownod by him, under a contraot mado by some person acting as employer, he shall be subjeot to tho samo liabilities as if he were himself tho employer. It was resolved to ask Government to introduce a clause into the Conciliation Bill providing for compulsory arbitration in all disputes connected with contracts. Mention was made of tho Inßpeotion of Building Appliances Bill, Mr. Bain remarking that tho measuro was regarded by h'g Association as most vexatious, and ho hoped it would never become law. Other delogaU 8 prosent concurred. , Mr. Bain advocated a uniform sot of conditions of oontract throughout tho colony, mentioning that the builders and oontraotois in Dunedin wore working Under ono sot cf conditions. Ho also thought thoy should insist upon architects providing a Bohodulo of quantities, and remVked that a strong: feohng existed in his city., that tho doposit system should be dono away with. He hoped that before the present conference separated a permanent union of the different associations would be formed. Mr. Poden spoke against the deposit system, and in favour, of tho proposal to federate. Mr. T. Carmiohael pointed out that tho deposit was roquirod as an assurance of tho bona fides of the contractor. Ho did not favour abolition of the system, but thought that deposits ought not to bo lodged in tho private bank account .of tho architect or proprietor, but should be placed to a separate account and returned with interest. Ho approved of the suggestion that the different associations should amalgamate to ensure oaoh other's interests, being _of opinion that the union would be produotivo of much good. On tho motion of Mr. Bain, seconded by Mr. T. Carmichael, it was resolved to form a Federated Builders' and Contractors' Assooiation of New Zealand, and Mr. Bussell was elected Chairman and Mr. White Secretary of the Association. It was farther resolved to have a record of the proceedings printed in pamphlet form and circulated, if the different Associations of the colony would contribute towards the cost of tho Conference. A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman, and to Mr. Trovor for tho use of hi 3 room, the Conferenco adjourned tina die.