AMALGAMATED ENGINEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 51

AMALGAMATED ENGINEERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. T . , AUCKLAND, March 5. Upwards of 20 members of the New Zealand Amalgamated Society of Engineers met in conference at the Trades Hall today. The delegates were welcomed by tho u Hev. J. K, Archer), and also by Mr M. J. Savage. M.P., representing the New Zealand Labour Party and the Parliamentary Labour Party. Mr W. J. Jordan, M.P., stressed the need for closer association between the workers and tho employers. “Trade in the engineering industries has been unsatisfactory during the past year,” said Mr H. M. Warner, president of the New Zealand Ironmasters’ Federation, in moving the adoption of the annual report. “ Many lines which could, and should, be manufactured here ai if- , bc - lng . imported at prices with which it is impossible for us to compete. However, the good prices now being secured for farming produce give promise of improved trade as the money comes into circulation. In Auckland the operations of the Apprenticeship Cornmitbave been confined to patching up differences between apprentices and employers, but should any question of principle be involved it is quite possible that a deadlock would occur. So far there has been felt no great benefit from last year’s amendment to the Act, abolishing the district quota of apprentices as from February This may be put down to the general slackness of the trade, but when business revives the ability of each employer to take on his full individual quota of apprentices w-ill be a distinct advantage. The engineering trade awards expire in June, and the most important business of the conference concerns the attitude to be taken by the federation regarding anj- application for new awards by unions. The federation elected Mr G. W. Hall (of Crristchurch), president; Mr A. C. Mitchell, vice-president; and as executive—Messrs Shacklock, Brown, and Gray (Dunedin), Mitchell and Cable (Welling, tmi), Hall and Andrews (Christchurch), eraser, Burt, and Warner (Auckland). ■ ■the next conference will be held at Christchurch.