SURPLUS WORKERS AT ROXBURGH

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28010, 3 July 1956, Page 6

SURPLUS WORKERS AT ROXBURGH

MINISTER PROMISES AID IN RE-EMPLOYMENT

The Minister of Works, Mr W. S. Goosman, has given an assurance. that he will co-operate in placing in employment the 390 workers at the Roxburgh hydro-electric project who received dismissal notices last Friday.

This was stated by the general secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Mr H. J. Allen, after he had conferred with Mr Goosman and senior officers of the Ministry of Works yesterday.

The South Island secretary of the union, Mr W. A. Dempster, said in Christchurch yesterday afternoon that results of a survey made by the Ministry of Works with a view to the reemploying of the men on public works and by the Labour Department with the object of determining the possibilities of employing the dismissed workers with private contractors were examined. Several offers from privatecontractors to place tradesmen on contracts were considered, he said. In the main these contractors provided accommodation for only single men?

Mr Dempster said that discussions between the men at Roxburgh and the general secretary were proceeding satisfactorily with the assistance of the Ministry of Works. It was expected that Mr Allen would make an official visit to Roxburgh next Tuesday to complete negotiations. In the discussions in Wellington the Minister had made no reference to the employment of the men at Benmore in the near future, said Mr Dempster.