REGISTERED PAINTERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1042, 5 August 1930, Page 7

REGISTERED PAINTERS

REQUEST TO MINISTER PROTECTION OF TRADE Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. The registration of painters, so as to prevent the “slap-dab” brush ban i and inexperienced man trespassing on ! the field of the legitimate tradesman, was sought by a deputation represent ing employers and employees in the painting trade which waited upon th»* Minister of Labour today. The Minister, the Hon. S. G. Smith, promised to go immediately into the representations made to him and place the matter before Cabinet. The deputation was introduced hv Mr. P. Fraser (Labour —Wellington Central) on behalf of th* master painters. Mr. R. L. Tingev of Wellington, said that for a long time they had urged the registration of painter?. Employers were now getting all kinds of hands, such as men from ships, who seemed to step into the painting trade from other callings. These men. through time and force of circuni- ; stances, came to be recognised as ! tradesmen, although they had n*i ■ served at the trade. The Minister: Then one would have to employ a licensed painter in ths same way one engages a licensed plumber?—That is exactly what we want. Mr. W. Nichols, of Wellington, who also spoke for the employers, said that what they wanted to dc was to build up the status of the trade. It was only fair to ask the Government ro give men engaged in it more prestige, seeing the interest it tock in the work of apprenticeship committees. The secretary of the Painters* Federation of Employees, Mr. F. D. Cornwall, said that the federation agreed entirely with the employers in their request for registration. After the initial register had been compiled, no one w’ould be registered who had not worked at the trade five years, or served an apprenticeship. Provision would be made in the way of examinations for those coming from overseas who sought registration as painters The Minister said he had not previously heard of the proposal. “I will look into the question at once and then take It to Cabinet/’ he said. “Its decision will be conveyed to you without any undue delay, but whether legislation will be introduced session I cannot say.”