BUILDERS IN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 32

BUILDERS IN CONFERENCE.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 29

At the Building Conference to-day the committee appointed to inquire into the question of establishing a federal council - y submitted it-a reports reaxnnirending the establishment of such council, to meet annually in one of the principal towns, and to consist of two members from each of the Federated Builders’ and Contractors’ Associations. The following members of the council wero appointed provisionally:—C. E. George and G. Clark, Dunedin ; T. Carmichael and A. Johnston, Wellington; J. J. Holland and S. J. Clark, Auckland; P. Graham and J. Greig, Christchurch; and W. Merry, Timaru; Mr Graham to bo convenor. Messrs H. Pearce ''Christchurch) and W. H. Bennet (Wellington) agreed to represent Auckland if possible in case Ihe delegates from that place were not able to attend the conference.

The question of opening tenders in tL© presence of tenderers was brought up and referred to the Federal Council. Some discussion took place on the subject of dealing with deposits and ultimately it was decided that the council should ho asked to see that such deposits should be dealt with, m some secure manner, so that proprietors and architects could not deal witli them for financial or other purposes. Mr Carmichael . moved—-'‘That tko

council be requested to use its endeavours to get the constitution of Conciliation Boards and Arbitration Courts, altered, and that no Government-paid member be on a Board or Court, except as chairman, and that each party to a dispute should elect its own representative.” He said that a Board should be composed of experts in the trade m which the particular dispute arose. Mr Harrison (Christchurch) seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.