Overseas Tradesmen Allege False Pretences

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1939, Page 10

Overseas Tradesmen Allege False Pretences

[Per Press Association. Copyright .] WELLINGTON, This Day.

Complaints that they had been brought to New Zealand under false representations were*made by building tradesmen engaged in Australia for employment on the State housing scheme.

They alleged that promises made to them in Australia by Mr J. Hodgens, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, had not been fulfilled after their arrival in the Dominion. One man, who with 39 others arrived in Wellington on Tuesday, said he had since been unable to obtain work.

In the meantime he was using up his reserve of cash and had not enough left to pay his return fare to Australia. He said he was a bricklayer in fah’ly constant employment in Australia. Disillusioned. Mr Hodgens had verbally promised him twelve months’ continuous work in New Zealand at more than £G a week, and assured him there would be a job waiting when he landed, and that accommodation would be arranged.

When they arrived in Wellington, he and the other men were met by Mr J. Lewis, of the New Zealand Placement Sei’vice. He was given a card introducing him to a contractor, who, however, said he had no work to offer. He v/as given other cards on the following two days, but had the same experience.'

The agreement he had signed stipulated that he must work on housing contracts for twelve months, and Mr Lewis told him he must not work for anyone else. On his arrival, the Placement Office sent him to several places to get accommodation, but the cheapest offering was £2 12/6 a week. This he considered too dear.

“I want to get back to Australia the quickest way I can, and I want to warn other Australians against coming over here,” said the man.