Tussock Board finds workers in community

Press, 29 April 1978, Page 11

Tussock Board finds workers in community

Forty-two men have gained jobs with the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board since its request for Tongan workers was rejected by the Government earlier this month. Last year, 38 Tongan labourers, who were regarded by the board as more reliable than their New Zealand counterparts, were brought to the country for tussock grubbing. This year, the board wanted to employ more Tongans but the Minister of Immigration (Mr Gill) said local -labour should have priority. The board’s operations manager (Mr D. W. McLellan) said at a meeting that 66 men had applied for work. Of the successful applicants, 16 were from Christchurch, 20 were local (from Kaiapoi to Waiau) and 23 men would be housed at the Cheviot and Waiau hostels. Six men had still to be interviewed. Most applicants had been referred through the Labour Department. Very few had been school-lea-vers. Tongans, however, may

still make an appearance in North Canterbury this year. Mr McLellan said that if the board experienced a shortage Of local labour after two months. Mr Gill would consider bringing in Tongan labour for the balance of the season. “I think the run we have got now may not be much different from the others we have had in the past,” said Mr McLellan. “1 can see a fair bit of movement to come.” The board took on Island labourers because it had difficulty attracting and keeping New Zealand workers. Mr R. G. Anderson asked about the possibility of increasing wages for the labourers. “It is the view in Cheviot that $lO4 gross is not much of a wage,” he said. “Farm labourers are paid about that much.” But the board could not increase wages, even if it wanted to, said Mr McLellan. “By law, we cannot put up wages; we would have to make a special case to the Industrial Commission if we wanted to,” he said.