DIVERSION OF LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 10

DIVERSION OF LABOUR

MEN UNDER SCHEME 13» OBJECTION BY PUKEKOHE [from our own correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Thursday Notification was by the Pukekohe Borough Council last evening from the Labour Department that Scheme No. 13 men would no longer be available to assist in the work being done under the council's £26,000 loan for laying concrete footpaths, - tar-seal-ing roads, and carrying out other street improvements. The men were being diverted to farm development work. ■ The Mayor, Mr. John Routly, reported that he had had special representations made to the department ix> grant the council's application for the continuance of the men on tha loan work, but the Wellington office of the department had replied that it could not vary "the decision. The town clerk mentioned that to date the Scheme 18' labour on the loan works had represented a contribution of £2175 from the department.

Mr. G. T. Parvin said the' council should certainly object to the men being allocated to market gardening in competition with the regular produce growers. i

Mr. G. H. Armstrong expressed the opinion that after the rush of eaasonal work on the farms was orer the Gov-"-' eminent would probably ask local bodies to again find work for the men. It was resolved to advise the department that as Pukekohe was practically a market garden the proposal to divert Scheme 13 men to work on the land" in this district did not appeal to the council. " ■