FULL-TIME WORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 3

FULL-TIME WORK.

APPROVAL of minister. PROBLEM OF FARM LABOUR. WELLINGTON, October 3. “I cannot emphasise too strongly the advantages to be obtained by employing men on a full-time basis instead of on a rationed system,” said the Hon. J. Bitchener, in his annual public works statement, presented to the House this afternoon. Mr Bitchener said that not only did the policy allow men to receive a more reasonable wage and settle down contentedly'to their work, but it meant a real economy to the Government, because the men could be employed on a contract system that ensured a. fair return on both sides. increase in Pay. “But to ask men to work industriously on this system I believe a reasonably good rate of wages should be offered, and I therefore view with

much satisfaction the decision to increase the rate of wages to 12s a day for married men. I anticipate a much better return for the expenditure incurred with this increase in wages. Experience in the past lias shown that there has been considerable difficulty in persuading unemployed workers engaged on No. 5 schemes or in receipt of sustenance in the towns to accept employment in the country). In fact, there has beeh a tendency for them to move from the country into the towns. ' It is hoped that the increase in the standard rates of pay from 10s 6cl to 12s will provide an additional incentive and encourage men to go where useful works can be undertaken. The increase in the standard rate, .however, raises the problem that farm labour may be attracted into public works. The Government is fully alive to this problem, and it is the intention of the Unemployment Board to take action which it is hoped will meet

this difficulty.” Committee’s Work. Speaking about the committee set up by the Government to prepare a longrange Public Works programme, Mr Bitchener said that so far the attention of the committee had been directed to the consideration of work capable of being put into operation, immediately. Another function of the committee is to collect and arrange in convenient form information on which a long-range programme of public works covering several years may be based.' This does not necessarily involve an increase in the total of public works, but it should enable the public works programme to be more closely related to the general economic position. In addition, it will enable preliminary surveys to he made so that works may be commenced just when required, and will assist the Unemployment Board in planning its finance.

Unemployment Works. During the year under review, Mr Bitchener indicated, a weekly average of 6774 men were engaged on relief of unemployment works controlled by his department. A schedule of works accomplished, which was included in the statement, mentioned, among other undertakings, the formation of dray roads, stumping and logging, scrubcutting, bushfelling, fireblight protection, sand-dune reclamation, clearing of farm lands, fencing, river control works, land drainage, small farm schemes, aerodrome construction, and irrigation.