“A HARE-BRAINED SCHEME”

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 10

“A HARE-BRAINED SCHEME”

RELIEF PLAN OUT OF FAVOUR. PROPOSED HELP FOR TRADESMEN “I cannot understand any professional men making co irregular a suggestion,” said Mr. E. A. Pacey yesterday, when a committee from the Hawera Chamber of Commerce met a number of master builders and painters and put before them a scheme for small contracts at lower than award rates as a method of alleviating unemployment amongst skilled tradesmen. Heated exchanges between Mr. Pacey, as a master builder, and Messrs. F. W. Horner and E. Dixon, of the Chamber of Commerce, marked the meeting. The builders agreed that the scheme was impracticable, and the matter was dropped. Mr- Horner, president of the chamber, explained why the committee had been set up. There was difficulty in finding work for skilled tradesmen, for the Unemployment Board would not subsidise anything but unskilled labour. It was felt that a great deal of work would be found in the town if people were approached and the situation made clear. Inducement would have to oe given, of course, so the work would probably have to be done at a lower cost. The difficulty of Arbitration Court wages would arise, but this could be overcome by contracts. It was thought, however, that the fairest thing to’ do was to meet the builders and painters and. discuss the position. “We feel that people are closing up their purses because they think worse times are coming,” said Mr. E. Dixon. “That is the very thing that will cause bad times.”

“I think it is a hare-brained scheme altogether,” said Mr. Pacey. “It is going to put us all out of business.” It meant that the 'builder and painter had to do all the cutting, said Mr., Pacey, while the suppliers of materials would get full prices. There was very keen competition at present, and in some quarters price-cutting had gone so far that jobs were being done for practically nothing. They could not pay less than award wages, and if they tendered for jobs they would be in difficulty at once. “Many of the buildings in High Street sadly need attention, particularly as far as painting is concerned,” said Mr. B. C. Bennett. It was thought that that work could be done by tender.

“It is a most pernicious system,” said Mr, Pacey. . It was suggested that the town could be canvassed for work.

Painters and builders had already made' canvasses, said Mr. Pacey. “If a town of this size gave a lead in cutting arbitration award rates, it seems that there would be trouble,” said one of the master painters. It would not be so bad if Wellington or Auckland gave a lead. “As business and professional men, put yourselves in our place,” urged Mr. Pacey. There were a lot of qualified solicitors unemployed. Would Hawera solicitors allow a similar system to obtain in their profession? “We do not want anyone to think that we are butting in,” said Mr. Horner. <c We are here to see if anything can be made of the suggestion. We do not wish to cut arbitration rates and cause trouble.”

Mr. Dixon said that they hoped to provide contract work at reasonable rates.

“You can’t do it,” said Mr. Pacey.

They had no axe to grind, said Air. Horner, but only wished to help the community. “If you introduce a system of small contracts, what are the employers going to do?” Mr. Pacey asked. “They cannot contract.” ,i

“What . I thought would be a round table conference has taken a different aspect with this hostile attitude of Mr. Pacey’s,” said Mr. Dixon. “I resent Mr. Pacey’s remarks. I did not come here to be abused.”

“I have not abused anyone,” said Mr. J?ac6y« “I think that you • should withdraw that remark,” eaid Mr. Dixon referring to “tho hare-brained scheme.” He appealed to Mr. Horner, the chairman, who agreed. “I am not z withdrawing anything,” said Mr. Pacey. Thanks for the /endeavours of the committee to assist was .by one of the meeting. He agreed with Mr. Pacey, however, that the master tradesmen would be cut out if the suggested scheme were adopted. Mr. Pacey said he regretted if he had hurt anyone’s feelings, but he must refuse to withdraw his remarks. He gave the committee every credit for its intentions. As the meeting had shown its atti-, tude very definitely, Mr. Horner said no more would be done in the matter.

SOUTH TARANAKI TENNIS.

TEAMS SELECTED FOR TO-DAY.

The following players will represent the Hawera Tennis Club against Patea to-day:—Mrs. Rudge, Miss Knight, Mrs. Duncan, Miss Buist, K. McFarlane, R. P. Baigent, B. McCarthy and AL R. Jpnes. The Hawera B team to play Park will be: —Misses Robertson and Walter, Mrs. Pease and Mrs. Rota, Misses H. Burgess and M. Hawken; emergency, Mrs. Caselberg; Pease, Syme, White, Bramwell, Meyrick, Ryan; emergency, Baigent, . The Park A team will be Misses A. and J. Hicks, Mesdames Jenkins and Hodder, A. Beck, R. Billows, F. Bernard, E. Yearbury. The B grade representatives will be: Mesdames Dymond, Lowe, Jones, Billows, Hall and Goodwin,' Rev. Young and Reid, L. Billows, Freeman, Robertson, Bell. Reserves: Miss Dymond and Jenkins.

MEETING OF HUIA LODGE.

DEBATE ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

A large gathering was present at the Huia Lodge meeting at Hawera on Thursday night. Bro. 0. V. Church presided.

Discussions arose on matters appertaining to the welfare of the lodge and members in general. At the close of the session the lodge went into social recess for the purpose of listening to a debate staged by six of the members. The question discussed was that the present system of unemployment levy was neither equitable nor justified. The affirmative was taken by Bros. Church, Finlay and Collier and the negative by Bros. Switzer, Storm and Mitchell. Lively argument ensued and the popular vote proclaimed the affirmative team the winner by a narrow margin.