WINTER EMPLOYMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 June 1939, Page 3

WINTER EMPLOYMENT.

FUR SEASON A L WORKERS. JOBS AR it ANGEL). l'er Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 0. 'Winter employment tor several thousand seasonal workers through the various State departments on local hotly jobs and oil farms is planned by the .Minister of Labour (lion. P. Webb). The scheme, which involves a number of important works in ihe Auckland district, was discussed by Mr Webb to-day with the heads of the various Government departments. “I had a conference with the heads of the Government departments, discussing the question of absorbing more men in employment in their departments.’' the Minister said. The Government was planning more work tr; meet the position of seasonal workers. of whom there were several thousand in the Dominion. The men ineluded those who worked in the freezing and dairy industries, at harvesting, shearing, and fruit picking, and in the tobacco industry in the south. '•lu the past, during the off season, these people found it difficult to get employment and the few pounds they had saved were soon eaten up in waiting for tile seasonal work to come round again,” lie continued. “The Tiresent Government set out with the idea of planning work for those men for the off season, feeling that it was far hotter to have them creating national assets than existing on sustenance. The work being planned is of the kind that can he classed as essential. Much rf it is not to bo done under tile present schedules planned by the different departments, but nevertheless it is work t-liat tile departments consider should be done, and it will be of definite heir, to the State when completed. Included in the weeks will be easements on the railways afforestation land, clearing and draining, river protection work, removing dangerous bends and the construction of now roads where deemed necessary.” Mr Webb said that in addition arrangements were being made for a considerable amount of contract work in assisting farmers to clear their land of scrub to bring more into cultivation. Tliis was provided for under Scheme 415 and the State would provide up to Tb per cent- of the wages cost. The Government felt that too much land could not be brought under cultivation. The Minister said be bad already attended to similar work in the South Island.