Warning Given Of Labour Shortage

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32073, 22 August 1969, Page 12

Warning Given Of Labour Shortage

For many Canterbury industries the problem was not in obtaining overseas orders but in obtaining the labour to produce the goods at the required time, the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association( Mr A. S. Farrar) told the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) and other guests at the opening of the New Zealand Industries Fair at Addington last evening.

Ironically enough, Mr Farrar’s address was followed shortly after by Mr Marshall commenting, in a previously prepared speech, that one of Canterbury’s assets was its labour force.

“As we move towards achieving the targets set by the National Development Conference, the problems created by insufficient labour will become more and more evident,” Mr Farrar said. The Government should improve its immigration scheme, Mr Farrar said. At the same time, industry could play a; greater part in working with! the Labour Department ini the selection and attraction of immigrants to New Zea-| land. Recently a group of Can-

terbury manufacturers had sent a man to the United Kingdom in an endeavour to fill their staff needs, Mr Farrar said. This had been done at considerable cost to individual companies, but he was sure the outcome would justify their efforts. He believed, however, that the Government could fulfil

a more active role in recruiting immigrants, which would materially assist New Zealand industry to take advantage of the new immigration quotas. The 1970 s would present many challenges to New Zealand, and they could only be met with an adequate, welltrained and balanced labour force, Mr Farrar said.