More Seeking Jobs With Local Bodies

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 1

More Seeking Jobs With Local Bodies

Christchurch local bodies report a marked increase in the number of applications for labouring or unskilled jobs.

When the Heathcote County Council advertised last week for labourers, it received 61 applications—in person, by letter and by telephone. “We had two inquiries from men from Auckland, and two came from Invercargill,” said the County Clerk (Mr K. D. Stills). “There were telephone calls from Timaru, Ashburton and Rangiora.” Such a rush of applicants had enabled the council to fill three vacancies, said Mr Stills. He was unable to account for the numbers applying. The men were, generally, of a good type. A City Council officer also confirmed that there had been an unusual increase in job applicants. On Tuesday, the council had 12 inquiries, and one day last week the total was 20. Normally, there would be three or four inquiries a day. “We have had a lot of North Islanders in recently,” he said. “Some of the men have been Samoans, or Islanders. The council has no vacancies." Mr R. A. E. Upston, the Riccarton Borough Engineer, said that there seemed to be a good reserve of labour at present. The council had been

able to choose from the applicants.

The Waimairi County Council’s assistant engineer (Mr A. J. W. Lamb) said that the council had not been advertising for labour recently, but would be doing so in the near future. There were not many casual applicants. “There have been many more men coming iti looking for jobs than formerly,” said a Paparua County Council officer.

From the Labour Department, it was learnt that it is normal at this time of year for North Island seasonal workers, chiefly from freezing works, to come to the South Island. In particular, a lot of Maori freezing workers from the Wairarapa seek jobs in the south. The department’s District Superintendent (Mr A. B. Tuck) said that there had been a few more inquiries for work through the department. Asked if any curtailment of sewerage work had produced an over-supply of labourers, the Drainage Board’s Chief Engineer (Mr P. J. McWilliarn) said that contracts let last year by the board would assure several months' work for contractors.

Although there had since been a drastic reduction in the amount of contract work let by the board, because of a shortage of loan money, so far this had not led to a substantial reduction in the labour force. As far as the future was concerned, the position would depend on the degree of support the board received for its loan programme.