Big Problem Manpower, Conference Told

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 12

Big Problem Manpower, Conference Told

“The Press” Special Service NELSQN, April 9. “Our major problem is still shortage of manpower and there is no material indication that this problem is being overcome,” Mr L. C. Fulford, president of the Federation of Master Printers of New Zealand, told the federation’s diamond jubilee conference in Nelson last night.

There were four main ways in which the problem could be at least partially solved, be said—immigration, an increased intake of apprentices, a positive effort to attract back to the industry tI.J many workers originally trained in printing who were now otherwise employed, and increased efficiency. All of the solutions were up to the federation, he said, except perhaps to the extent in which the Government could assist in the increase of immigration labour. The federation should urge the Government to be more liberal in immigration assistance for printing and allied craftsmen.

The delay in providing adequate facilities for training and housing apprentices who attend block courses at the National School of Printing in Auckland was disappointing, Mr Fulford said. There were 485 printing establishments in operation according to the latest figures released by the Government Statistician on the industry, he said, and there was a staff of 13,000 persons engaged in the industry. These persons earned £13.5 million a year and the value of their production was more than £26 million.

“The role of the industry as a consumer is also significant,” Mr Fulford said. “In the 1964-65 year we used 74,983 tons of newsprint, 24,973 tons of other papers. In addition, substantial quantities of such products as inks, cellulose film, adhesives, binding materials and many others were used. Each year a larger proportion than previously of these materials is locally produced.”