BRITISH BUILDERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 115, 20 June 1914, Page 11

BRITISH BUILDERS.

THE THREATENED LOCK-OUT. NEW ZEALAND'S GENEROUS SUPPORT. J'rcstt Association. WELLINGTON, June 20. An announcement of considerable interest to trade unionists is made in the current number of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters' and Joiners' journal. During the past few months the building trade at Home, particularly in London, has been greatly disturbed owing to the employers insisting that the men, before they are employed, shall sign an agreement under which they pledge themselves to be subject to a line for each breach of agreement, and not to quit their employment because any one of their fellow employees is or id not a member of any trade society in London. The men steadfastly refused to sign any such agreement, and a long ■ anil,; struggle ensued, y.'hich,riiii has seeii;threatened, will culminate-: lii r geiyeTiil, lock-out by the Master throughout the United'iKiftgdom.

The current number of the carpenters ' journal announces that on- May 19 last a cablegram was received by the New Zealand Executive Board from Mr Chandler, the general"secretary of the society in England, and which read as follows: "Threatened lockout. Funds urgently needed. Please make orders on all branches able to remit. —Signed, Chandler."

The New Zealand Executive Board held\a special meeting the same evening, and unanimously decided to remit £3OOO forthwith, making levies on the various branches as follows:-—Auckland Central £235, Mt. Eden £2OO, Ponsonby £350, Newmarket £4O, Devonport £25, Onehunga £3O, Christchurch £l9O, Sydenham £SO, Gisborne £l6O, Greymouth £75, Hamilton ' £4O, Hastings '£l2s, Napier £l5O, Invereargill £SO, Masterton £3O, Nelson £6O, Palmerston North £6O, Rotorua £4O, Timaru £IOO, New Plymouth £25, Stratford £2O; Hawera £2O, Wanganui £125, Westport £SO, Brooklyn v £100," Wellington Central £350, Wellington South £175, Petone £75, Lower Hutt £SO.

The Avhole of the amounts as levied were sent within a few days, one branch (Greymouth) in proportion to its membership, sending as much as £l2 10/per member.