MINISTERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2499, 12 May 1909, Page 4

MINISTERS

THE HON. J. CARROL

DEPUTATIONS

The Hon James Carro.l was in for a couple of hours ye.,tt 1 day received a deputation from the Ma her Builders’ and Contractors’ Association in reference to the preference to UnionSsjfce of the arbitral,on award. awards, and it was decided to krmg tho matter under the notice of the Member for tlie district. . , . , , *«-. Mr Somervell pointed out to Mr Carroll that the award pressed heavily on employers in many cates. He did j not know if the clause was earned out with greater rigor in Gisborne than in other centres, but the contractors certainly suffered from the enforcement of the clause. The Association did not desire to in any way go against the award, it had been given and had to be recognised, though he thougflt safeguards might be made in the law. Some time ago he wanted some men, and he was particular m inquiring of all applicants if they belonged to the union. Two said they did not, but his son put them on to work. The inspector came along, he (the speaker) was served with a summons and fined £2O, but the fine was afterwards reduced to £5. Altogether the award had cost him £8 13s, and he could not afford to pay it. The fines went to the Union funds,, which was a wrong principle, for the law was broken, and th© ;flne should go to the Government and. “not to the Unoin. He held that a maii should have the right to say whether he would join a union or not, whether he shall work or not, and whom be shall work' for.

Mr J. Colley said he did not think any builder wished to break the law. but occasionally men were engaged in a hurry, and it was sometimes impossible to choose unionists. Without any warning prosecution took place and he held the clause was administered far too rigidly. Mr M. Haisman held that in some cases a caution might be given by the Inspector, and that even with all the union rules the men were not- as well off now as they were years ago. Mr Evans (Evans, ' Isield and Co.) said that the award had yet 18 months to run and the Association asked Mr Carroll’s assistance to have a lav,' passed that preference should not be compulsory. v The Minister in reply said that he would represent the views expressed to the proper person in the Cabinet; the Minister for Labor, who would not only consider what had been said, but would also bring the question under the notice of Cabinet. He would not make any comment on the law, but he was pleased to notice that all the builders were willing to -assist to carry out the law. The two points of dissension seemed to be the rigidity of administration and the suddenness with which action was taken in' case of a breach. It seem a pity the law could not be smoothly carried out with due regard to the benefits due to both sides. He would do justice to the representations made when speaking to Mr. Hogg, and perhaps ask him to visit- Gisborne to inquire into labor matters generally, and hear what had been said by the builders. There were many little questions that seemed to cause friction between employers and employees, and the fact was to be regretted, especially when employers were nrepared to carryout awards with all reasonableness. Still, the antagonistic elements seemed to in and often made the awards most unsavoury. .Mr Somervell thanked Mr Carroll for his attention to what had been said.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. Mr Wilson brought under the notice of the Minister the fact that tenders were often invited 1 by the Government for work in which certain timber was specified, but after builders had gone to a great deal of trouble to prepare tenders, none were accepted, and the job was done by day labor at a lower rate, the cost, being saved bv using cheap timber. The fact was also published that the job was done for less and it was made to appear that contractors were trying to impose on the State. Mr Carroll said he had known cases, when -the tenders were above the estimate that none were accepted and the Department carried out the work, but it was the first time he had seen the matter from the contractors’ point of view. It was good to have the matter ventilated, and lie would be glad to arrange an interview with the Minister for Public Works during the week, so that the position could be put before him, as it really concerned his Department. The deputation then thanked the Minister and withdrew. THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS. The Hon. R. McKenzie, with Mr W. D. S. McDonald, M.P., and Mr Armstrong. Pubilc Works Engineer, arrived at Motu at about 4 yesterday afternoon from Opotiki. Mr Carroll'will go to Waikohu this afternoon to meet tho party. ' THE HON. A .T. NGATA. The Horn A. T. In gat a will arrive in Gisborne from Napier on Saturday morning. While in Gisborne lie will attend a. meeting of the local branch of the To Ante Students’ Association, at which an effort will be made! to re--vive interest in tho Young Maori movement by the establishment of brandies in various centres of Native settlement in the district.