MASONRY TRADES.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 17

MASONRY TRADES.

Dear Sir, —Cannot something be done for those workers who are engage*! in the masonry trade:' Other tradeainen have their unions,, and if a feeling exists amongst them that the wages received are not sufficient according to. the cost of living, they can, by consent appeal to the Conciliation and Arbitration Courts for an increase in the same. Now, many unions so existing have demanded an increase in wages, and it is said that on that account the cost of living has increased accordingly. J3ut although -i he cost of living has increased, the wages of the stonemason has remained stationary. This, I say, is hardly as it should be, and I would suggest to all those engaged in this work that they should try and arrange for ■meetings to be held in the four centres .during Christmas week, so that thy may come together and take steps to lift up the work in which they are engaged. This would enable those engaged in country firms to make arrangements so that they could attend -such conferences. Many of those engaged at the outside work in this business only receive their 8s per day, and I contend that the pay is not s-uiffi-cient in correspondence to the cost of living• This suggestion should receive' the he-arty support of the small firms established, as Suggestions could then be made betwixt tbom and the majority, of the tradesmen how they should best _■; *ght and compete against the monopoly oat exists and controls the sale-* of

woinaiidcl granite. Will any trsdesmi&ii. wlio aoorovea of the formation of

such a union kindly contribute his opinion, and so let us try to place ourselves on the same footing as other tradesmen. —I am, etc., Masterton. MARBLE.