BUILDING TRADE SHUT-DOWN SUGGESTED IN WELLINGTON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22572, 27 February 1948, Page 6

BUILDING TRADE SHUT-DOWN SUGGESTED IN WELLINGTON

CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 2G. Unanimous in their opinion that Communistic tactics must be met by the firmest possible action, the master builders of Wellington and the llutt Valley decided last night that a secret ballot will be taken among the members of the Welling Builders, Joiners and Contractors’ Industrial Union of Employers on the issue of a complete close-down of the building industry in the Wellington district. This drastic decision was reached at the most largely-attended meeting of builders in the district for a considerable time and after a full discussion of the go-slow dispute sponsored by the New Zealand Carpenters’ Union. In announcing the decision, the master builders stated:— “There was a consensus of opinion that the master builders were forced into this position by the tactics of militant members ,of the union and that builders suffering under the goslow policy should be supported by every member of the association. “This decision has been forced upon the building industry to protect the builder in his service to members of the public who wish to build and to those workers who in the majority are heartily sick of interference with their personal liberty and economic

safety, for it is believed that unless the continual rise in costs is checked new building will shortly reach a peak beyond the public's financial ability. “The fight is not against loyal employees, who are in a majority, but against the militant members of the union who are against law and order as represented by the Arbitration Court and who have forced this dispute on the majority of the workers-’’ Threat of Black-listing The master builders’ statement continued: “The builders feel that they would be failing in their duty to the Government and to the public if they allowed the union to get away with the tactics it has adopted. The threat of 'black-leg' and ‘scab’ which certain officials of the union are so fond of hurling at their members always leaves a bad taste in the decent unionist's mouth. With the threat of black-listing which union officials are now holding over certain of the small master builders who may have to take action to counteract the go-slow, there is no option, in the opinion of the builders in this distret. but to have a complete close down until the carpenters' union agrees to resume work under normal conditions." The statement said the impression was held, after discussions with the workers, that the union did not have unqualified support. Some men had refused to go-slow and others had unwillingly left employers rather than 1 adoot the tactics. The statement added: “This fight is not between the builder and his employees, but is a struggle between the law and order desired by every decent man and woman and the disruptive militant element of the union.