DISMISSALS AT ROXBURGH

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28008, 30 June 1956, Page 8

DISMISSALS AT ROXBURGH

14 Days’ Notice To 390 Men UNION OFFICERS CONCERNED Three hundred and ninety workers at the Roxburgh hydro-electric project, which is now nearing completion. were given 14 days’ notice yesterdav. The announcement \Vas made to the men by the project manager. Mr Frank Handcock. | On Monday, the general secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union in Wellington. Mr H. J- Allen, will discuss the proposed dismissals with the Minister of Works. Mr W. S. Goosman. and executive officers of the union who are at present out of Wellington. A promise of future employment for the men had been given some time ago by the Minister, who had ordered a survey of public works throughout New Zealand which might be able to employ them, but nothing had been heard, said the South Island secretary of the union, Mr W. A. Dempster, in Christchurch yesterday.

“No indication has been given as to where they are to go, or even if the Minister wants them at all.” he said. At Roxburgh, Mr John Sylvester, president of the Roxburgh branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, said yesterday that the union had worked for two years to get the Government to proceed with capital works which would absorb the men from Roxburgh. but no concrete plan had been made. “Three hundred and ninety men. skilled and experienced in hydro construction vital to the country’s economy, will dissipate into other industries. and be lost as a team for ever, as will most of the remaining 250 men in the next few months,” said Mr Sylvester. “Because jobs of the sort these men are best suited for are in the North Island they will, for the most part, be lost to the South Island.”