TIMBER INDUSTRY

Grey River Argus, 10 November 1944, Page 3

TIMBER INDUSTRY

REHABILITATION PLANS Minister’s Statement SUSIDIES FOR TRAINING P,A. WELLINGTON, Nov. 9 “The timber industry has supplied many of its skilled workers to tile armed forces and is now finding great difficulty in replacing them at a time when an acute housing shortage cals for greatly increased timber supplies,” said the Minister of Rehabilitation (Hon. Major C., F. Skinner, )i, in a statement. “After discussions with representatives of employers and employees the Rehabilitation Board lias decided to offer subsidies for the training of various classes or inexperienced or slightly experienced ex-servicemen desiring to enter j.he industry.” Subsidy rates had been approved, based on gross- weekly rates —including cost of living allowances —of five quineas a week for the first six months and £5 7s 6d for the next six months. For training in bush worjs. the subsidy would be 35s for three months and would cover (A) felling and cross-cutting, and (B) breaking out, roping and bush tractor ana hauler driving. In sawmills a subsidy of 35s for three months would be paidj for the training of Pacific and breakdown operatives, while for breast, bench and gang sawyers the subsidy would be one guinea lor three months.

Ex-servicemen wishing to train as planing mill and box factory machinists would be covered by a subsidy or £2 12s 6d for the first four months, 35s lOd for the second four months, and 21s 6d for the third four nymths. Training would include the operation and setting up of all machines ana the grinding of knives and cutters. A twelve months’ course in saw doctoring had been provided for, said tne Minister. It was to be taken at Wai pa State sawmill, near Rotorua. Tne subsidy will be five guineas for tne first period of three months, £2 12s 6d for the second period, £1 15s lOd for third period, and £1 is 6d for the fourth term. There would also be a limited number of vacancies for training as drying kiln operatives on the technical side. The course will be split up into three four monthly periods, the subsidy being £2 12s 6a for the first, £1 15s lOd for the second and £1 Is 6d for the last period, “There will be a large expansion in forestry activities' after the war,',' said the Minister. “The State Forest Service alone is now planning numerous forestry and industrial developments, which as rehabilitation projects are expected/ to result in an increase of day-wage employees from sixteen hundred before the war to about five thousand in a relatively short time after the end of hostilities. Local bodies and afforestation companies are also planning for postwar expansions, and will need large numbers of training and skilled workers. The timber trade itself is expected to expand by about twentyfive per cent, on its pre-war levels, and to offer good opportunities for > skilled logging and milling operatives of all classes,” concluded the Minister, j