SLAVS FOR PUBLIC WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16825, 16 April 1918, Page 4

SLAVS FOR PUBLIC WORKS

j NORTHERN ALLOCATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. A statement in regard to the proposals of i the Government in respect to the employ- ! ment of Slav labour on Northern railways | and other works was made in the House ! of Representatives this afternoon by the Minister for Public Works. The Minister said that since ho had met the deputation of Auckland members last week he had j arranged for the placing of about 300 Slavs upon Auckland railways. A number of Slavs would also be employed at swamp drainage works. j In {.peaking to a Herald representative I subsequently the Minister stated that he j proposed to employ about 50 Slavs on the I Kaikohe-Okaihau section of the railway, about 50 on the Huarau section, 30 or 40 J on the Waiuku line, and the remainder on i the branch line between WhanVarei and . the North Auckland Main Trunk line. He I proposed to start work on the tunnels as soon as possible, and probably a number of Slavs would lie employed in this work. , The Department's engineers were now arranging With Mr. John Cu'len, the Jugoslav commissioner, for the drafting of the , men to various works.