THE SLAP-DASH PAINTER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11281, 11 August 1930, Page 3

THE SLAP-DASH PAINTER

NOT LIKELY TO BE INTERFERED WITH.

(Specia) to.-the Times.)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 30 Inquiries show, that there is little chance of the Master Painters and Painters’ Federation of Employees obtaining the registration which they desire A few days ,agOj representatives of employers and workers in the painting trade waited upon the Mimsetr of Labour to ask that legislation should lie passed providing lor registration: It was suggested that, after the first register was made, men should he admitted only if they had served for five years,, or passed an examination (it was suggested) m painting. ; Tlie matter was brought to the attention of the Hon. W. A. Veitch, ( who was Minister of Labor last year, but! so far as can be discovered, this is the'-first, time- that the trade has asked -the Government to put the painter on -a definite basis. Poth parties el aim that this will protect the public against “slap-dash” painter. However, it appears that there is little ehaiK-e of Cabinet approving the course which the p-> inters. Risked them to take. The difficulty is that the legislation is a- two-edged sword. By registering painters, the market is closed against anv men whb' are able to paint efficiently and the public is restricted from indulging in freedom of contract. While it mav be 'mining -protection against b°d workmen, it is granting, a vonopi'y to a. small group. Tn addition, 'the ordinary rules of business apply, and no one is-compelled to pay a painter for a botched: job, or to employ him against if be does give satisfaction.

The Government appears to bo'hesitant about granting such o. monopoly. ' Another'difficulty which presents itself is the practical one of conducting the proposed examinations, the., examiners and the method to be adopted in the examination.