Breeze in Builders’ Camp

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 41, 18 February 1938, Page 8

Breeze in Builders’ Camp

EXECUTIVE’S ACTION IN STRIKE MATTER CRITICISED “I am going to put this motion as one of no-confidence in the action of the executive in this matter,” declared the president of the New Zealand Builders ’ Federation (Mr. W. A. Petrie, of Timaru) when yesterday’s conference in Palmerston North was presented with a remit from Canterbury urging that the federation executive promptly consult the presidents of the local associations before any decision was reached on all urgent major matters affecting the building industry such as strikes, threatened strikes, lock-outs, etc. Mr. W. P. Glue (Christchurch) stated that during the construction of State houses in Auckland, builders had been astounded to hear that the workers had gone on strike for extra pay. The contractor had rightly held that it was a Dominion mattter and had referred tho dispute to the federation ‘executive which had agreed to the increase in wages to carpenters being retrospective. Mr. Glue was interrupted by the president, Mr. W, A. Petrie, who declared that that was not a fact. The position was—and it may have been unfortunate—that the Arbitration Court at that time was about to make a pronouncement on standard wages. Mr. Glue: Why didn’t you fin~ it necessary to deal with labourers? The president: They weren’t on strike.

Mr. C. S. Luney (Christchurch) said it was one firm’s problem alone and yet the executive had agreed to an increase to get that firm’s men back into work. The president explained that there had been threats of strikes in other centres.

Mr. R. A. Cornish (Auckland): The trades unions were asking for a general strike throughout New Zealand and the executive saw an easy way out by granting the increase from the day of the Arbitration Court’s pronouncement which was expected then at any time. The president; I am going to put this motion as one of no-confidence in the executive’s action.

Mr. Glue: Nobody wants it that way. Mr. Luney: What is the good of a conference if we can’t air our views? 1 am prepared to accept the explanation and present it to the Canterbury Association.

Mr. Glue: We were not satisfied but will accept the explanation. It is all right coming here to scratch each other’s backs but we should also scratch each other’s faces at times.

The secretary, Mr. W. J. Mountjor, said the remit would tie the hands of the executive. Associations must have confidence in the executive or have no executive at all. Too large a committee would mean that they would get nowhere at all. The executive on the spot had a better knowledge of different problems that arose. Mr. Luney thought local associations should have some voice in major masters affecting the industry. Tho executive consisted solely of Wellington men. The remit was lost.