WORE FOR 5000

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 13

WORE FOR 5000

CLEARING FARM LAND USE OF SUBSIDISED LABOUR MINISTER ? REVIEWS PROGRESS TMY TKLEGRAIMI —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WESTPORT. Friday The employment of 5000 men as subsidised farm clearing workers is expected in the near future by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb. In an intorvicjv at West-port, Mr. Webb said that 2800 men were now employed undci; Scheme 48, and work to absorb another 1000, was already planned. ''So far complaints generally have been negligible, and the country is assured of considerable profits as a result of the diversion of labour from public works and Scheme 13 jobs," said Mr. Webb. One of the major difficulties the farmers had to face was finding the 25 per cent of wages, and also the extra cost for fencing materials, seeds and other essential requirements. Finance lor Farmers The State Advances Department and many of the mercantile firms and banks had agreed to advance their clients sufficient money to enable them to avail themselves of the opportunity of employing men who were formerly on Scheme 13 and public works. A great deal of work was being done by subsidised labour on the contract system. Although many of the men were inexperienced in this class of work, they had measured up splendidly, and were giving general satisfaction to the farmers whose lands they were clearing. The average pay was £4 4s a week. Being on contract, many of the men might work more than 40 hours a week, but they were anxious to finish their contracts as soon as possible, and to return to their homes. Reduction During Summer Months Expressing his belief that 5000 men would be employed under the scheme, Mr. Webb said the number might bf> reduced during the summer months because of work offering in seasonal industries. It was the Government's intention to have available ample labour to meet the industrial requirements of the country, and in the off season to plan schemes of work which would enable the Dominion to increase its production, at the same time providing employment for those partly occupied throughout the year. Cases where experienced farm labour was not available were knoWn to exist, said Mr., Webb; but a good class of labour, although inexperienced, was .being offered to farmers. The Employment Promotion Division was subsidising wages to the exteqt of £1 a week for the first six months, to enable men to gain experience. More than 600 inexperienced farm workers were being subsidised, and judging from reports they were doing excellent work.