THE BUILDING TRADE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8865, 16 July 1907, Page 2

THE BUILDING TRADE.

Per Press Association. Wellington, July 16. A deputation from tho New Zealand Builders’ Federation waited upon tho Acting-Minister of Public Works to-day, aud asked Government to adopt the conditions governing Government contracts agreed to at a meeting of builders andfa-rchiteots bold at Timarn some time ago. The deputation also brought forward tho question of conserving native timber areas.

The Minister .said ho would require to peruse the conditions of contract before giving any definite reply, but speaking generally, they would appear a rather largo ’order that a contractor was framing conditions which the person lotting tho contract would be required to carry out. Regarding native timber areas, he said Government recognised tho necessity of conserving all timber supplies. Tho same deputation afterwards waited on tho Minister for Labour aud asked for captation allowance to enable apprentices to attend technical school classes, and to give the Arbitration Court power to compel the attendance of apprentices at such classes. Tho Minister said Government were spending an enormous sum ou technical education, and they did not k®ow 'whore the present trend of thing was going to laud them. The Minister also pointed out that education was compulsory up to 14 years, and that the deputation was uow practically asking Government to. make it compulsory up to 21 years. Ho asked if tho employers proposed to give auy time for boys to attend technical classes.

Mr Bennett, president of- the Federation, said that point had not been considered. The Minister said conideratiou must bo giyen to the whole matter before a decision was arrived at.