Tongans not allowed in to grub tussock

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 2

Tongans not allowed in to grub tussock

Tongan labour will not be available to the North

. This, is in line with a disI cussicm at the March meeting of the board. It was then suggested that, if the use of the Tongans was not approved, the demand for work from within the board’s area be tested before using unemployed men from Christchurch. Although the board is advertising specifically *, for labour from its North Canterbury district, if nett enough suitable applications are received consideration will be given to suitable, applicants from other areas if they apply. The board is already employing 12 men from the Amberley and Waipara districts but another 38 are needed instead of the Tong-

Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board for its grubbing work this year. The Minister of Immigration (Mr Gill) has .declined the board’s application to bring in 38 Tongans for eight months from April 20.

The application has been rejected because of the unemployment tn Christchurch and the need to give priority to New Zealand workers." _g.

“1 think the board will be jvery disappointed," said the -operations manager of the board (Mr D. W. McLellan), I when he received the deciIsion in a letter from the ! Minister yesterday. “The iTongans were very goad 'value last year. They caused no problems and they were a marvellous work-force. They were good value for money. “The problem with unem-| ployed labour is that they come and go all the time. iWe are training people the I whole time but as they start ito become useful they frequently move elsewhere,” said Mr McLe”an. The board is advertising in “The Press” this morning for labour from the board’s • district and if there is not a :good enough response the board will have to consider) using unemployed labour: ifrom Christchurch.

ans to service the Amuri land Cheviot county areas. I "It will cost slightly more if we have to use unemployed labour mainly because of having to employ cooks and having to supply food,” said Mr McLellan. “Some of, this cost for this service is offset by a boarding recovery charge and a small grant from the Government to help offset the difference between the cast of using Tongan labourers, who supply their pwnj food and do their own cookiijg, “The board has used New Zealand unemployed labour since about 1973 at its Waipara camp. Waipara has been the most convenient camp for this as the base closest to Christchurch,” said Mr McLellan.