BUILDING TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 130, 29 November 1932, Page 8

BUILDING TRADE

WAGES AND HOURS

HEARING OF DISPUTE

EMPLOYERS' PROPOSALS

Conciliation proceedings in the dispute between the New Zealand Federated Builders' and Contractors' Industrial Association of Employers, and the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters' and Joiners' Industrial Association of Workers, were commenced to-day on a Dominion basis, before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. \V. Newton). The assessors for the employers were Messrs. R. A. Cornish (Auckland), L. W. Chisholm (Wanganui), W. Parkin and W. I. Clark (Wellington), W. H. Winsor (Christcliurch), W. A. Petrie (Timaru), and W. Ellis (Dunedin),- and for the employees, Messrs. T. Moulton (Wellington), E. C. Sutcliffe, P. E. Pearl (Ohristchurch), W. G. Baird (Dunedin), F. Stansfield (New Plymouth), and W: Rigg (Hastings). The advocates were Mr. W. T. Mountjoy for the employers, and Mr. T. Bloodworth (Auckland) for the employees. A reduction in the wage for carpen-" ters and joiners and joiners' machinists to 2s an hour was. asked by the employers, while the employees asked for the old rate of 2s 3Jd an hour. It was agreed that the worker responsible for carrying out the work and who gives the instructions to the workers receive not less than Is a day extra. In regard to hours, the employers asked for the same hours as under the old award—£4 hours on. five and a half days—and the employees asked for 40 hours on the first five days of the week. Under the award the overtime rate is time and a half for the first four hours, and double time thereafter. The employers asked for time and a quarter, and time and* a half in excess of four hours. The employees asked for double time rates for all overtime , and . for. work. done on Sundays and holidays. The employers offered double time on Sundays, New Year's Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day, and time and a half on Boxing Day, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday-, and Labour. Day. PALLING OPF IN TRADE. Mr. Mountjoy said that the award expired on 21st April this year, but it remained in operation until a new one was made. When the award was made in (March, 1930, trade in the building industry was fair, and although- it was not as bright as in previous years, the Court and the people in general were of the opinion that it would improve. That hopeful outlook was displayed by the Judge and members of the Court granting au increase of Jd an hour, to joiners and machinists.'"Unfortunately for all concerned these expectations have not materialised," he said. "On the contrary, trade has steadily fallen, and to-day the building industry is faced with the most desperate times that have ever been experienced in the Dominion." The conditions ruling in the industry to some extent could be measured by the value of the building permits issued. In 1926-27 the value o^f the permits issued was £11,019,389; in 1929-30 it was £9,959,877; and in 1931-32, it was £2,728,486. Those figures indicated the. falling off in trade during the past few years. Many contractors had. had to give up business, and others were hanging on still, hoping for better times. • All classes had had their income reduced, and consequently those requiring work to bo done were endeavouring to obtain it at the lowest possible cost. The competition had become keener than hitherto. The wages of carpenters and joiners had been subject to a 10 per cent, reduction as from Bth April, 1931, but since that date trade had seriously decreased, and the employers had reached tho stage when further reductions in wages wero necessary. There were perhaps more carpenters unemployed to-day than ever before. The employers had no desire to reduce the wages of their employees, but circumstances over which.they had no control forced such action upon them. Unless the employers received the co-operation of the workers in this direction many more employers, would have to give up business. ■ It -was felt that the workers in the industry should to a small extent at least bear a portion of loss that was being experienced. Workers in manay industries in New Zealand had realised the need for all to share the losses brought about by the unwelcome depression and liad agreed to reduced rates of wages. "The employers in the building industry regret having to ask for reductions in wages and tho conditions of employment, but they hope that the representatives of the workers present will realise that the times demand a revision of terms and conditions of employment to tide them over these unfortunate times. It is to be hoped that it is realised at the present time that employers' and workers' interests aye .not conflicting but • are identical. Surely no slight advantage in the form of high rates of pay will benefit work-' ers if because of those high rates they lose their employment. The employers' desire is to keep going, and I feel sure that it is also tho desire of the workers in tho industry to-day." He hoped the parties would come to a reasonable agreement. TW<> REDUCTIONS IN WAGES. Mr. Bloodworth said he joined wholeheartedly with .Mr. Mountjoy in the hope that a reasonable agreement would be reached, but there might be room for differences of opinion as to what a reasonable agreement was. Tho industry was a largo one, and in normal times about 10,000 people depended on it for their living. Since the award was made the workers had had two reductions in wages, a 10 per cent., and the 5 per cent, unemployment tax. It was hoped that when the. 10 per cent, cut came into' force costs would come down proportionately, but that was a vain hope. The workers could not support the. view that a further reduction would inprove the position. Referring to tho question of hours, Mr. Bloodworth said ho thought that the employers might have made a reduction so as to spread the work available over a larger field. THE WAGES QUESTION. Discussion on the wages question ,and a clause in the employers' application regarding improvers followed un to the luncheon adjournment. The'"employers' suggestion regarding improvers was that an apprentice, having completed his apprenticeship, might be employed as :an improver for not more than twelve months at a wage of Is 4sd an hour. The period of improvership might be- spread over a period of two years gommencing from the date of the completion of the apprenticeship. It was explained that this suggestion-had been made to meet tho present times, when an apprentice found it difficult to obtain employment after finishing his time. ; - ■ ■