BUSINESS HAMPERED

Evening Star, Issue 25849, 20 July 1946, Page 8

BUSINESS HAMPERED

GENERAL INDUSTRIAL UNREST SCARCITY OF BUILDING MATERIALS Reviewing the principal activities of the past year, the annual report of the Dunedin Builders' Association presented to the seventy-third 'annual meeting on • Thursday deplored the hammering of business in- the Dominion, in common with the world in general, by a degree of industrial unrest, which improved working conditions, shorter hours, and increased pay appeared incapable of allaying. The president, -Mr D. A. Swann. was in the chair, and there was an, unusually large attendance of members, including a number from country districts. • The annual report stated that the cessation of the war had not resulted in much relief from controls and restrictions, war regulations which had been revoked being replaced by others which appeared to be of a more permanent nature. The shortage of labour, which had presented a difficult problem for some years, was now much less acute, the principal obstacle to progress in the industry at,the present time being the extreme scarcity of many essential building, materials. There had been a welcome voluntary influx of new members, the total membership now being higher than had' been the case for many years, which indicated appreciation of the benefits -and services which the organisation afforded. The balance Sheet showed a satisfactory position and. with the report, was adopted l . The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr George Simpson; vice-president, Messrs Alex. Ross and J. Donaldson; committee—Messrs W. H. Naylor. A. McLaren, A. J. Price, F. L. Lawrence, G. P. Tlooth. J. Werges, and Gordon Mills, with the past president Mr D. A. Swan (ex officio). Mr A. S. Cookson was reappointed secretary ,aud treasurer. __