CHEAP LABOUR FOR FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 225, 21 June 1939, Page 6

CHEAP LABOUR FOR FARMERS

Government Subsidy Increased ABSORBING MEN OUT OF WORK Dominion Special Service, HASTINGS, June 20. Stressing that now was an opportune time for farmers to improve their land by availing themselves of the surplus labour offering, aud that work of a good kind was available in all State departments, the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, during a visit to Napier and Hastings yesterday, granted a ntupber of requests from local bodies for grants for labour to carry out various works. The Minister said the Government aimed .at co-operating with local bodies in eliminating unemployment. “If you have anything about the town that can be done to improve it, now is the time to act,” said the Minister when replying to a welcome extended to him by the mayor of Hastings, Mr. G. A. Maddison.

In their efforts to provide employment for all, the Government wished to avoid taking married men away from their homes, said .Mr. Webb. To this end, the Government had asked him to seek the co-operation of employing bodies. As a result of the cessation of seasonal work there were now about 185 men in the district who were able and willing to work but were out of employment. In addition to what local bodies were able to do in the way ot absorbing idle men, one of the State departments had decided to increase the subsidy rate from 50 per cent, to 75 per cent, to enable people to clear their lands and so increase their assets. Officers everywhere had been asked not to treat applicants with red-tape methods but with an elastic mind.

For school committees an excellent opportunity was presented to bring about great improvements to school grounds. In concentrating in this direction work would be done tyhich might not be measured in £ s. d., but in something that could only be appreciated in the future, said Mr. Webb. In extending a welcome to the Minister, Mr. Maddison said they realized the magnitude of his task, and appreciated the energy he was displaying in the relief of unemployment. As chairman of tl.it: Hawke's Bay Education Board. Mr. Maddison thanked the Minister for making available work for improving school grounds. “I would like to thank him oflicially,” said Mr. Maddison, “for the active, immediate, and full steps he has taken in this direction.” The Minister agreed to grant subsidies on labour for various local body works, for improving the rond to the summit in Te Mata Park, for improving the Clifton Domain, and for general improvement works in the Havelock North Town Board's district.