Australian Tradesmen Arrive

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1939, Page 7

Australian Tradesmen Arrive

[Special to “Northern Advocate"} AUCKLAND. This Day. Twenty-six Australians arrived by the Awatea from Sydney to-day to work under the State housing scheme. With others arriving in Wellington by the Wanganella to-day, they are the first of hundreds of tradesmen being enlisted in Australia. Over 20 men and women of various occupations also arrived by the Awatea. Their arrival is not connected with the Government’s enlistment. The men’s callings ranged from farming to iron and steel works. No difficulty is anticipated in placing the skilled workers. Except for an electrician, who is being sent to Wellington, all the Government men are starting work to-mor-row on local housing contracts.

The Australians Welcomed,

“It is not because workmen m New Zealand are not good ones that you are arriving'today, but it is because the good workmen we have have put the Labour Government into power and given it a big job to do,” said the Hon. J. A. Lee, Under-Secretary for Housing, welcoming tradesmen on the Awatea.'

He added that they would be teaming in with a fine body of New Zealand tradesmen.

Welcoming the Australians as good tradesmen and unionists, Mr J. G. Kennerley, secretary of the Carpenters’ Union, said that at the moment things were not over busy in Auckland owing to the temporary slackening of commercial building. However, there was no difficulty in placing tradesmen.

“The Government has a big job on hand, and the greatest problem has been finding good tradesmen,” said Mr H. Campbell, secretary of the Painters’ Union Council.