PUBLIC WORKS.
SHORTAGE OF LABOUR. (TRESS ASSOCIATION TICLEGRAIt.) WELLINGTON, December 28. Some people expected that the signing of the armistice would give an immediate fillip to public works in New Zealand. s,Sir WiL'inm Fraser said this morning that the armistice had not yet brought any new labour to his Department, which was still three thouß&nd men snort of the normal need for public works. He did not expect that tho position could bo much improved at present by the release of men from camp, because ho believed that nearly all of these hands would bo absorbed in town occupations and farming work. The soldiers who would return to New Zealand during the next throe months would be mainly clearances from hospitals. Very few. if any, would be able to take up hard manual work. The embarkation of the fit men would not bogin till tlie terms of peace were settled. Sir William Frnser remarked that he did not expect that much extra labour would be obtainable beforp the or befjinninjr of May. Meanwhile, the rate of expendituro on nublic works was necessarily limited by the amount of labour available.
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Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16407, 30 December 1918, Page 7
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189PUBLIC WORKS. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16407, 30 December 1918, Page 7
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