TRADESMEN NOT WANTED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16952, 6 February 1926, Page 7

TRADESMEN NOT WANTED.

UNION OBJECTS TO IMMIGRANTS.

"HEARTLESS 'POLICY” CONDEMNED.

*’ (Special to the Herald.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day

The Christchurch Plasterers’ Union Ims made a strong pmtesl against the action of tlio Canterbury Master Builders’ Association in advising the New Zealand Building Trades Federation that the trade in this district could absorb an additional 25 plasterers from the Old Country. The secretary of the Union, Air. C. Bcnn, in forwarding to the Minister of Immigration a report of the meeting of the Builders’ Association, at which tlio matter was discussed, states that he is instructed by the Union to bring under the Minister’s notice the fact that the number of plasterers employed in Christchurch, and who are members of the Union, totals 8(5, and that the membership of the Union during the last seven years has increased by only 19. "It is the opinion of members of the Union,” the letter proceeds, "that to bring 25 plasterer's into the district would have disastrous results, either for the newcomers or for those already engaged in the industry. It is pointed oui that the arrival of even half a dozen men would result in severe hardship for somebody. It is felt that the sole desire• of the employers is to ob-tain-a surplus of labor with the object of lowering- wages. It is desired that you .will exercise every possible effort to prevent employers in the 'building.trade from carrying out their selfish and heartless policy. This union is not against tradesmen from England coming out here to try their fortune, but it is strongly opposed to 1 lie flooding of the trade with men who /■an have no possible chance of employment except through the unemployment of New Zealanders.”