SHORTAGE OF TIMBER

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24591, 13 June 1945, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF TIMBER

MORE BUSH WORKERS WANTED

MINISTER’S APPEAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 12. "We need approximately 1000 riien in the timber industry at the present time," said the Minister of Rehabilitation (the Hon. C. F. Skinner> tonight, appealing to former servicemen with suitable experience or inclinations to help overcome the umber shortage by entering the sawmilling Industry, particularly as bush workers. Mr Skinner said the particularly great with the conteroK' d acceleration of the GoVern’s housing programme. Men who contributed toward building homes for their returning comrades and solving the present acute housing shortage by entering the timber industry would in no way endanger their rehabilitation privileges. There would be no binding contract for them to remain in the bush for sp many years, and when they felt they would like to change their occupation or environment they would receive the assistance of the Rehabilitation Department in establishing themselves in the new life they might contemplate. "The present annual output of timber is short by more than 100,000,000 board feet of the requirements of 450,000,000 board feet a year. For some time to come house building and furniture manufacturing requirements will have to rely almost entirely on the Dominion’s own timber resources,” he said. Wages in the timber industry, were reasonably good, and were subject to the recent award increases.