CARPENTERS AND JOINERS

Evening Star, Issue 23298, 21 June 1939, Page 8

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS

A STOP-WORK MEETING DISSATISFIED WITH AWARD [Per United I’uess Association.! AUCKLAND, dune 21. Practically all the building undertakings in the Auckland metropolitan area were suspended this morning while carpenters and joiners and allied tradesmen held a stop-work meeting in the Town Hall to protest primarily against certain features of the award issued recently by tho Arbitration court. Mr J. B. M’Cormack, president of the Carpenters and' Joiners’ Union, presided over an attendance of 2,500. The men ventilated their grievances from various angles, and after registering protests in a series of resolutions, decided to return to work this afternoon. Tho resolutions replied! to a protest by the Auckland Master Builders’ Association at the holding of the stopwork meeting, and stressed the need tor the introduction by the Government of its Holiday With Pay Bill. They commented! on the serious loss of wages by men through wet weather. * A resolution was carried unanimously registering gratification at the concern expressed by the Master Builders’ Association regarding the unfortunate delays in the building industry, and trusting that it would view with equal concern those delays caused by wet weather. A further resolution unanimously and emphatically protested against a judgment that was decidedly against the weight of evidence, showing lack of understanding of the working conditions and failing to make allowance for the increased cost of living. Another resolution was carried unanimously expressing satisfaction at the intention of the Government to bring down a Holidays With Pay Bill. A further resolution carried by au overwhelming majority endorsed the recommendations that the State should take over the entire control of flic erection of Government houses with a measure of workers’ representatives on the management. It was also asked that a guarantee of employment be given to all men at least as good as that ottered to men from overseas, and in return the meeting agreed! to cooperate in the rapid and economical production of homes and assist in absorbing men from scheme 13 into the building trades. The attendance overflowed the Town Hall Concert Chamber and had to be transferred to the Town Hall proper. The meeting was orderly and enthusiastic.