ARTISANS ARRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 61, 14 March 1939, Page 10

ARTISANS ARRIVE

NEW SOUTH WALES MEN

WAGES QUESTION

Thirty-eight men arrived by the Wanganella from Sydney today to engage in the building trade in New Zealand. The men, who were,all from New South Wales, were mostly carpenters and painters, with a few bricklayers. The majority of them were single, and several who were interviewed by "The Post" said they would return to Australia if conditions in New Zealand did not appeal to them. When Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., visited Australia to engage workmen for the building trade in New Zealand he was ; met by a large number of tradesmen, one of the men said. That was mainly because there was a lull in building in Australia at present and the prospects of an opportunity of seeing New Zealand appealed to the younger men. The Premier of New South Wales had announced through the Press that there would be plenty of work for building artisans in Australia within a few months, but that had not had any effect on the men who had decided to come to New Zealand. He believed housing would receive a stimulus in Australia within six months and he and his companions had no doubts about getting work there in the future if they returned. AUSTRALIAN BUILDINGS. Timber was too dear in Australia for weather-board houses to be popular, the same workman said. Most cottages were built of cavity brick, but there was a little building in brick veneer and concrete blocks. Brick veneer was about 15 per cent, cheaper than cavity brick but it was not considered advisable to build with timber frames. The cost of brick buildings had increased considerably during the last year and workmen considered that was due to the sale of the State brickworks which had kept the price of bricks at a reasonable level. However, there was still plenty of work for bricklayers, and he did not'think many "would come to New Zealand. I The wages offering in New Zealand were lower than those in Australia, said another man. If wet weather cut down their hours' and wages, he did not think many of the men would remain in the Dominion. ! The men were, met on their arrival by the Placement Officer of the Labour Department and will be drafted to positions immediately. Some of them will probably go to the State housing scheme, but others expressed a wish to secure employment on larger building projects.