Builders’ Conference in Wellington

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 5, 1 January 1917, Page 851

Builders’ Conference in Wellington

The annual meeting of the N.Z. Federated Builders and Contractors’ Association was held in Wellington in November. The following officers and delegates were present:—President, Mr. N. Meuli; vice-presi-dent, Mr. J. H. Maynard; executive committee, Messrs. W. H. Bennett, W. L. Thompson, A. M. Wilson, H. Mainland; treasurer, Mr. P. C. Watt; secretary, Mr. W. A. Grenfell ; representatives, Messrs. G. Baildon and W. Ball (Auckland), J. 11. Maynard and W. H. Winson (Canterbury), J. D. Hamilton and J. Knox (Dunedin), H. W. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay), F. Needham (Manawatu), M. Frain (Southland), E. Walpole (Wanganui), H. Mainland, W. L. Thompson, and A. M. Wilson (Gisborne). The delegates were welcomed by the president of the Federation and by the president of the Wellington Builders’ and Contractors’ Association (Mr. H. Mainland). The Annual Report was presented by the president and read as follows :— In again presenting a report of the work of the Federation your Executive feels that delegates join with it in deploring the continuance of the dreadful warfare in Europe. The people of the Dominion feel its overshadowing influence and daily anxiety exists lest disaster come to our cause or lest they be bereft of dear ones. Very many members of the affiliated Unions have sons or relatives in the ranks of our brave soldiers, while a goodly number of master builders have laid aside their ordinary work and have given themselves to assist. in fighting the country’s and the world’s enemies. Of the many brave deeds of the New Zealand forces and of the manner in which they have kept clean the fair name of the Dominion the people are naturally proud. The effect of the war upon the building trade is, in common with other trades, being seriously felt. Only necessary work is being carried out and the natural business expansion of normal times has ceased. Owners and capitalists are cautious in their investments. A large number of the best workers have volunteered for active service, thus creating a shortage of competent journeymen, resulting in the necessary employment of less capable men and the consequent lowering of the standard of work performed. As to building materials, prices have increased beyond conception, importations have been curtailed and many classes of goods are now unprocurable. In matters legislative, it is recognised that the time of ministers and departments is fully occupied in directing the abnormal business of the state, brought about by and in consequence of the war, and your committee has therefore deemed it advisable and fair to withhold making representations to the Government on a number of questions that it is desired should receive consideration. Amongst these questions are (a) The duty on foreign timber, (&) The differential

railway rates on imported timber, (c) Amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to better ensure that all employers of labour are bound by trade awards, ( d ) Amendment of the Arbitration Act so as to provide that when arbitrators are unable to agree upon an umpire it shall be the duty of a local magistrate having jurisdiction in the district in which the dispute has arisen to name an umpire. These matters will be dealt with by your executive as soon as circumstances are favourable for the making of representations. ADVISORY OFFICER. That the enthusiasm and energy shown by our good president in endeavouring to secure the agreement and support of all centres to his proposal for appointing an organiser for the Federation has so far been unfruitful, is much regretted by your committee. The war is unfortunately largely the cause of the scheme not having been adopted by all centres, although it is fair to record that the majority of them gave their support to the President’s proposals. The question is one that will undoubtedly be again discussed and in connection with it, it should be marked and noted by delegates, and centres should take warning of the fact that workers unions are appointing Dominion organisers who will be visiting the various centres, doubtless for the purpose of building up their unions and rendering them expert assistance in connection with trade disputes. LEGAL. Your Executive recognises that one of its important functions is to watch the progress of legal cases of interest to the trade. It was therefore decided, after consulting the centres, to secure the best available counsel to argue the builders’ cause in a recent appeal in Wellington, in which a business firm sought to recover from a firm of contractors the full value of goods supplied on the order of the employer, although the contractor bad been allowed and paid by the employer a less sum than that claimed. The original contract for the building stipulated the P.C. sum of £23o—for furnishings, but the architect authorised payment of only £164 odd to cover the furnishings account. Although the contractors had not received more than that sum, which they were all along prepared to pay, the local magistrate gave judgment against them for the full amount claimed. The appeal was against this judgment and resulted in the case being decided in favour of the contractors. The full Supreme court judgment will be printed in the report of conference proceedings. An Auckland case involving a ruling of the Supreme Court on the question of finality of an Architect’s certificate has been partly heard. Mr. Justice Cooper has decided that an Architect’s certificate is not final

and that the decision of the Architect is open to revision by arbitration. DUTY ON TIMBER. Credit is due to the Hawke’s Bay Master Builders’ Association for the active and proper steps taken by it to bring about a review by Government of the.direct and indirect duty imposed on imported timber. In furtherance of the steps taken by Hawke’s Bay your Executive waited upon the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. H. Herries) for the purpose of requesting that the differential railway charges on imported timbers should be removed. In support of the request it was stated by Mr. Bennett (Chairman of Executive) that the values of timbers imported last year were: — United States; Oregon £45,199; other timber £25,784; Australian logs hewn, ironbark £57,532; jar rah £34,588; other timber £16,525; logs round, ironbark £20,337; palings split £5,113; timber sawn n.o.e. ironbark £19,445; jarrah £108,170; other timber £46,163; total imports £379,856. The value of the total imports for 1914 was £404,582. Not only was an import duty payable to the Customs but a further restriction was imposed by the railway charge of rate and a half. While New Zealand timber gives approximately 450 super, feet to the ton, hardwood only gives 320 super, feet to the ton. These timbers were therefore penalized to the extent of the extra half freight and also with the extra weight, so that it became very expensive to take any foreign timber from a seaport to the interior. With respect to Oregon timber it gave 700 super, feet to the ton. It was further pointed out that the end of New Zealand timber was practically in sight, supplies are rapidly coming to an end, and Master Builders are becoming anxious as to the future. The free importation of foreign timbers would assist in conserving local supplies and it would be wise policy on the part of the Government to encourage importations. Local timbers hitherto used for bridge building and works connected with water or immediate contact with the earth were fast disappearing. Jarrah and hardwood were now taking the place of totara. For certain purposes the importation of Oregon was becoming a necessity. If Oregon did partly supplant local timbers it would be a good thing for the Dominion, as it would lengthen the life of local supplies. As to undue competition with the sawmilling industry, it is sufficiently protected by the heavy sea-freights. The Minister in replying said the matter had been brought before his notice several times. The hardwood did not complete so directly with our own timber as the Oregon. Hardwood in many cases was included in Government specifications, but he had heard very little in favour of Oregon as compared with our own timber, except that it could be got in longer lengths. As to the general principle, he thought it could be safely conceded that any protection of native industries should be done through the Customs and not by the railway, but when the question arose there were objections to bringing in a Customs Bill, and the method was adopted of putting on the protection by means of a railway tariff. He hoped that the next time the Customs Bill was brought in the whole

question would be considered. He did not know that he could hold out any hope of any alteration while the war is on. He would like to give some relaxation with regard to hardwood, but in war time they did not want to drop any source of revenue that they could hold on to. If a Customs Bill was brought in he would put the matter before Cabinet. In reply to the request of your executive to ilm Minister of Customs (Hon. A. M. Myers) to bt afforded an opportunity of interviewing him on the question of Customs duty on imported timbers, the Minister intimated his readiness to meet your Executive, but he pointed out that it would be useless asking him to open, during the war period, the whole of the Customs tariff in order to review this one question. Under the circumstances your executive deemed it advisable to hold its hands until there was some immediate prospect of reform. LABOUR TROUBLES. The New Zealand Executive Board of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners approached your Executive with a request that a conference be held in Christchurch for the purpose of considering terms for a new Dominion Carpenters’ award. After consulting the centres, your Executive replied that as the awards do not expire until the 16th December of this year and as the Master Builders will meet in conference before that date it has been decided that delegates should not be appointed to confer with the Amalgamated Society. The Wellington District Council of the same Amalgamated Society also proffered a request that the Master Builders should meet it in pronouncement of the of giving effect to the pronouncement of the Arbitration Court re granting a war bonus to all employees.” This request arose, no doubt, from a misunderstanding of the true intent and meaning of the statement of the Arbitration Court made in Wanganui when announcing its decision in the Auckland Labourers Dispute. As other Unions have either deliberately or in error placed a wrong interpretation upon the Court’s judgment, it is advisable Master Builders should learn the true intent and extent of the Court’s pronouncement. This will be readily gathered from the following extracts from the Court’s memorandum. (Book of Awards Vol. XVII. page 137) :• —- ‘ ‘ Without committing itself to any definite opinion on the subject, as the circumstances of each particular industry and the effects of the war upon it, prejudicial or beneficial, as the case may be, must necessarily be a determining factor in the matter, the Court suggests that employers generally might well consider whether workers in their employ should not be granted a war bonus on the same lines as that contained in this award (10 per cent, bonus upon the minimum wage). It appears to the Court that in order to provide workers under present conditions with a reasonable living wage they should be paid at least 1/3 per hour in the case of hourly wages, and at least £2/12/- per week in the case of weekly servants.” Your Executive’s reply to the Wellington District Council was to the effect that after full consideration of all phases of the matter the Executive regretted it could not recommend the trade to pay a war bonus. It was pointed out that at the time the last increase was given to the Carpenters it was considered by

employers that the fixing of wages at 1/6 per hour would prove a settlement of the wages question for some years. The executive expressed the opinion that Trade Unions were apparently reading into the pronouncement of the Arbitration Court much more than was intended by the Court and the Amalgamated Society was reminded that the Court in making its statement respecting a war bonus was dealing primarily with the wages of labourers and the lower grade workers, not those of the general body of workers. EMPLOYERS REPRESENTATIVE ON ARBITRATION COURT. The selection of a fitting representative to fill this most important position for the ensuing three years has shortly to be made. As members are doubtless

APPRENTICES. The very important present day problems respecting the training and employment of apprentices call for the most serious consideration of all employers. In the near future the fair treatment of apprentices who have been on active service will have to be weighed and dealt with, and the proper training of youths to give a necessary supply of skilled workers in the future demands the closest attention of Master Builders, OBITUARY. Your executive with sorrow records the death of Mr. K. P. England of Christchurch who for many years took a prominent part in the doings of the Federation and who for his sterling character and native worth was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him .

aware, the re-appointment of Mr. William Scott to the position was for the balance of the existing term which expires this year. It is believed Mr. Scott is willing to again accept nomination and as he has been recommended by the annual meeting of the New Zealand Employers Federation for nomination and as he has since his return to the Court, shown in a marked way how valuable his services are to employers, your executive strongly recommends his selection by affiliated Unions.