LACK OF SKILLED TRADESMEN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 21

LACK OF SKILLED TRADESMEN

Position on West Coast CARPENTERS IN DEMAND AT GREYMOUTH A. statement made by the Hon. P. C. Webb. Minister for Mines, that 10,000 \ more tradesmen could be absorbed in the Government's housing scheme and another 20,000 in allied trades, was by no means exaggerated in the opinion of the State Placement Service officer at Greymouth (Mr F. R Palhser-SmitrO. Discussing the Minister's remark, and more particularly its relation to the West Coast, Mr Palliser-Smith said that the lack of skilled labour, especially carpenters, on the West Coast, was acute. There were two big build.mg programmes afoot in the Greymouth district, the Government's housing scheme at Cobden, and the Nurses' Home, attached to the Grey Hospital, in Greymouth itself. Both these jobs would be farther ahead, probably, were more men available. As it was, they had to rely mostly on other places for tradesmen, and he was trying even now to obtain six carpenters from Christchurch to start work on the Nurses' Home in Greymouth. Mr J. Steele, who is in charge of the work being done at the Nurses' Home, confirmed what Mr PalliserSmith had said about the lack of skilled labour on the West Coast. He said that he had been handicapped by insufficient carpenters, and those he had were drawn mostly from Wellington, Christchurch. and Auckland. For the most part, little more than eight men had been employed on the work which represented a £36,000 undertaking. "I could place 18 carpenters in positions to-morrow if they were available," Mr Steele said. "But they are not to be had, apparently. And it is a pity, for the scarcity of carpenters is affecting the allied trades as well. Electricians, plasterers, labourers, and others, cannot start on their respective jobs until the carpenter has completed his." Mr Steele said he hoped to complete work at the Nurses' Home by June. Providing there were carpenters available, the job would be finished by then. GREY ELECTRIC POWER, BOARD I MONTHLY MEETING HELD | . I Appreciation of the Grey Electric Power Board's action in raising the i pay of assistant linesmen to 18s 3d ! was contained in a letter from the i Amalgamated Engineering and Allied , Trades Union of Workers, which was received by the board at its monthly | meeting on Wednesday evening. Mr j | J Mulcare presided. ! ;' Advice that he had made represon- < j lations on behalf of the board to the j Minister for Finance (the Hon. VV. i Nash) regarding the board's Australian loans. was received from Mr J. O'Brien. M.P.. while the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr J. W. Andrews, wrote stating that he would support the board's efforts in procuring legislation regarding the Australian loans. The Hawke's Bay Power Board wrote to the same effect. i Mr Sinclair Trotter, the board's engineer, reported that the outside staff had been engaged on general maintenance, alterations to the system to arrange for the total supply to be fed from Dobson. and connecting up new consumers. The branch line at Nine Mile to connect up the new State mine was under way. The units generated at Arnold river station, and maximum demands for the four weeks ending January 16 were:—Week ending December 26. 1937: 258,240 k.w.h (maximum demand 2394 k.w.) week ending January 2. 1938 (holidays). 145.390 k.w.h. (1620). week* ending January 9. 1938. 1253.350 k.w.h (2394). week ending ! January 16. 1938: 297.690 k.w.h (2412) ! total units for four weeks. 954.670. j PORT OF GREYMOUTH I i ■ i ITHE PRESS Special Service.] GREYMOUTH. January 2d. The Kartißi sailed shortly after midnight last night with coal and timber for Auckland and Portland. The Gabriella arrived early this morning with cargo from Wellington, and loading timber for Sydney and Newcastle The Totara is due late to-night from Tokomaru Bay to load coal and timber for Gisbome. The Poolta is due on Saturday from Wellington to load coal for return. The Breeze is due on Monday from Wanganui to load timber for Petone, Wellington, and Miramar. on behalf of the Union Company. The Rata is due on Tuesday from Wanganui to load for Tarakohe and Picton. „ „, , The Titoki is due on January 31 from Wellington to load timber for Onehunßa The Hokitika left Hokittka yesterday for Ruawai. She will load cargo for Greymouth at Onehunga about Monday The Gael will leave Hokitika on Saturday with cargo for Bruce Bay and Jackson's Bay. ~ , , ~ The Waimea is to withdraw from thcoastal service on January 31, and will undergo annual survey. She will be laid up about three weeks. PORT OF WESTPORT (THE PRESS Speciai Service] WESTPORT. January 20. The Te Aroha arrived from Wellington with general cargo at 1 a.m. to-day. She is expected to sail to-night or early tomorrow morning for Little Wanganui to load timber lor Wellington. The Rata is an expected arrival fro.a Wanganui to-night to load for New Plymouth and Wanganui. The Waimea is an expected arrival from Onehunga to-morrow to load for Nelson This vessel is expected to return to Westport from Nelson to load for Wanganui. The Kaitoa has been cancelled. The Government lighthouse stcamc Matai is an expected arrival about Feb: uarv 2 from Bluff, via Sounds portb. The Kalmal is loading to-day for I*l- - Timaru. and Dunedin, and is expected to sail early to-morrow morning fo The y Kakapo arrived this morninjr fro... j wt melon wiUi general cargo for di>- ; Kef and loads for Auckland, sailing , Auckland andl Portland. to . morrow . ~3 3 .JMriS standard time). _ ]»TR S. H. MAYNE, F.S.M.C F. 1.0. JVL < London), representing PROCtobS •' THE Opticians, Christchurch. will be visiting Greymouth and may Ln«,ilted on all defects of eyesight £ Mr N D. Menzics' Dental Rooms l Orev Motors Buildings opposite Post Office 'on Friday and Saturday. 21sl now be made by •£rin2 M? Ivan Bennington, Sports r Defo" g (Phone No. 4855.)