A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY?

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22240, 3 November 1937, Page 8

A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY?

NEW ZEALAND FOR THE WORKING MAN

OVERSEAS TRADESMEN INTERESTED

Whether or not New Zealand really is a land flowing with milk and honey, there are numerous overseas tradesmen who are apparently ready to believe that it is. From Great Britain, from South Africa, and more particularly from Australia, there have come to various quarters inquiries from skilled workers who would like to come to New Zealand. The 40 carpenters who arrived recently from England and Scotland on a contract in the North Island may be followed by other men of varied trades in the near future if wages and living standards for the working people show sufficient premise of being maintained. Tales about workers' privileges and shortage of skilled workers in several trades have evidently travelled into some most distant ctuarters of the globe, and New Zealand is apparently becoming known as a land of plenty. Trade union secretaries are among those who have received inquiries. Skilled workers in the engineering trades for instance, have sent inquiries from South Africa and Australia to Christchurch. In other quarters, too, answers have been sought to auestions about prospects and living costs. Some interested trade union secretaries say that if the openings are available, and present conditions are maintained, there may even be a minor immigration movement towards New Zealand, with or without official attempts at encouragement. So long as New Zealand workers have Plenty to occupy them the presence of the immigrants is considered not likely to cause any concern.