Papers relating to the formation of a Building Investigation Committee by the Wellington Branch of the Carpenters Union. Mar to Dec 1938., 1938 - 1938

The records in this collection relate mainly to McAra’s association with the Wellington Branch of the Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners Union between 1938 and 1946. They document his participation in the Branch’s Housing Committee, later known as the Building Investigation Committee, set up in May or June 1938, to investigate the growing housing shortage in New Zealand. The papers also cover McAra work as a paid organiser for the Carpenters and Joiners Union from April 1940.

However, the collection also includes material relating to McAra’s work with the State Placement Service, which from November 1938 included the investigation of the extent of the shortage of building artisans, reasons therefore and possible or practical remedial measures (Lewis to McAra, 28 Nov 1938, MSS & Archives A-139, item 1/8); and papers related to McAra’s role as a Union representative on the Labour Government’s Building Committee formed in January 1939.

This collection should be consulted in conjunction with MSS & Archives D-6: Wilfred (Bill) McAra papers relating to the New Zealand Building and Allied Trades Federation and MSS & Archives D-11: Wilfred (Bill) McAra papers relating to the building industry in New Zealand, as the three collections overlap chronologically and cover McAra’s involvement in a series of interwoven events.