SEAMEN IN CITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1932, Page 19

SEAMEN IN CITIES.

I REDUCTION IN TIME. j A PRIVILEQE CURTAILED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON," this day. The reason * for the reduction made in the time seamen are allowed to under-, take city relief work before being, drafted to country camps was indi-' cated in the House yesterday by the; Acting-Minister of Employment, Mr. Hamilton. Aocording to Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour, Auckland West), the time had been reduced from 12 to six months. The idea of allowing. 12 months had been to keep the men handy to port in case, employment on vessels became available. He urged that the original term be reinstated, and that, failing that, the period should be fixed at least from the date tlie men received work, and not from the time they left the ship. | Admitting that the period had been reduced to six months, the Minister said ?• there had been a good deal of objection to the longer term by carpenters, who !■ objected to being put into the country, and by others. He had been working in with the Seamen's Union as much as possible and trying to help its members, ! hut it was difficult to maintain the 12 months' period; it was a privilege that was not being extended to other sections.