MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 37, 23 November 1940, Page 4

MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS

RELEASE FOR FARM LABOUR. ( PLACEMENT OFFICER’S ASSURANCE. Seasonal workers on Public Works who were required for primary production must lie released, stated Mr J'. B. Pearson (State Placement Officer in Ashburton). If the Public Works Department was not prepared to release these men the Minister would see that the men were released. These assurances were given last evening at a meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Primary Production Council when Mr R. B. Tennant (Director of Primary Production) wroto in reply to a previous letter from the Council asking for information about the chances of men taken from Public Works for farm work being re-employed by the Department.

Mr Ri. G. Gerard referred to a case of a shearer on Public Works who was told lie could be released .for the season, but was not assured that he would get his job back. Later further advice was received but no definite assurance was given that he would be re-em-ployed. , Mr Pearson said that the Public Works Department could not give an assurance of re-employment. It was, However, desired that there should be no lack of labour for primary production.

Mr H. C. B. Withell said it seemed hard that a man should lose his job.

Mr G. H. B. Lill said that if a man went into Territorial service his employer had to keep the position open for him. There seemed to be a differentiation. i

It was decided to reply to (Mr Tennant stating the case given by Mr Gerard.