PUBLIC WORKS JOBS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1939, Page 11

PUBLIC WORKS JOBS

TARANAKI REP.ORT

CURTAILMENT POSSIBLE

Following recent Ministerial announcements about the transfer of labour from Public Works to other projects, it is stated that a curtailment of activities in Taranaki is expected and that a number of men will be dismissed shortly, says the "Taranaki Daily News." A reporter was informed that many workers had received notice and that a number would soon have to look for work elsewhere. ! Although no official information could be obtained, i,t was understood that there would be a gradual displacement of men as the various woi'ks on which the Department was at present engaged were completed. There was a considerable amount of main highway reconstruction work a long way from completion yet, and this was. not likely to be interrupted, it was staled. Reference to the position was made at a public meeting at Stratford on Saturday night when at the conclusion of an address, Mr. J. G. Barclay, M.P. for Marsden, was asked what the Minister of Labour meant when he said there was a job for everyone, and Public Works employees had just been informed that they were going to be put off. Mr. Barclay replied that a readjustment of labour was taking place, but that the Government, as in the past, would, if necessary, find work for men displaced. Mr. Barclay referred 1.0 the possibility of-thousands of young mcxi being required for the defence of the country iincl said that (here would be many ■ places to fill. If the young men put off Public Works could not find other work they would be found work by the Government. He could not guarantee that it would always be suitable' work. ' . "Things," he said, "are different in wartime." However, suitable work ' would be found wherever possible. The position could be stated only in gen!eral terms at the preset time, Mr. Barclay said. ■■